Barry Men's Tennis Makes A National Statement

By Litzy Grijalba

Barry University men’s tennis has never been a program content with simply being good. Excellence has long been the standard, and this season, the Buccaneers have once again proven why they belong at the top.

The spring 2026 NCAA Division II preseason tennis rankings were released on Wednesday, Jan. 14, and Barry claimed the No. 1 spot in the nation. The poll is voted on by the ITA National Ranking Committee, which is composed of eight ITA regional chairs and a national chair.

The rankings placed the Buccaneers ahead of several Sunshine State Conference opponents, including Florida Southern, Embry-Riddle and Rollins.

Much of Barry’s momentum came from a historic showing at the ITA Cup, where Buccaneer athletes delivered pivotal performances and brought attention to the program.

Pictured from left to right: Antonin Chapuis, Loup Alleno, Yan Kodjoed, Stanislas De Samucewicz, Elie Azoulay Photo Credit: Maison Clemente

The ITA Cup kicked off in Oct. 16 in Georgia, with three Barry athletes competing in the tournament.

On the first day of competition, sophomore Yan Kodjoed, who is majoring in business management and is the second seed in the men’s singles tournament, won dominantly, 6-1, 6-2, advancing him quickly to the next round.

The momentum continued into day two, as Kodjoed remained in top form with another decisive victory, moving into the semifinals. By day three, Barry athletes were making a deep run across the board. Kodjoed earned his spot in the finals after a three-set comeback win.

On the final day, Kodjoed delivered the defining moment of the ITA Cup to capture the ITA Cup championship.

His victory marked a major milestone not only for his individual career, but also for the Buccaneers’ program, adding another national title to Barry’s already decorated tennis history.

Kodjoed became just the fifth male Buccaneer in program history to win both the ITA Regional Championship and the ITA Cup. He joins a list of Barry greats: Herbert Bende (1995), Christian Witt (2000), Emanuel Fraitzl (2010) and Alejandro Ibanez Gallego (2019).

For Kodjoed, the ITA Cup was a turning point not only for the season, but also for his personal growth as a competitor.

“Performing well in a high-pressure individual tournament built confidence early in the season,” Kodjoed said. “It showed me that my preparation was working and that I could compete at a high level consistently.”

He added that the experience reinforced the values that define Barry tennis. “It reinforced the importance of discipline, mental toughness and staying focused on every point,” he said.

Kodjoed admitted that the depth of his accomplishment did not fully hit him right away. “When I won, I did not realize the magnitude of what I did,” he said. “I’m really proud.”

However, with success comes heightened expectations and Kodjoed acknowledged that winning such a major title also brings added pressure moving forward. “It is still a lot of pressure because everybody wants to beat me now,” he said.

Junior Simone Cavaleri, majoring in business management, believes the team’s strength lies in its identity and chemistry. When asked to describe the team in one word, Cavaleri emphasized the global nature of the roster. “International,” he said.

Despite Barry being voted the preseason favorite in the Sunshine State Conference, Cavaleri explained that rankings are only meaningful if they lead to championships.

“It is a good achievement, but it doesn’t really mean anything, because what really matters is the end of the year,” he said. For Cavaleri, the goal is to continue Barry’s championship tradition and bring another title back to campus.

“It would be an honor for us to represent Barry,” he said. “We really want to do better than the year before.”

Both players emphasized that the team is built on unity and constant improvement.

“The tennis team is like a big family,” Kodjoed said. “We are all like brothers. The coach is like the dad.”

To add, Cavaleri stated that daily chemistry is what pushes the Buccaneers forward.

“We always practice together…we try to create chemistry with everyone,” Cavaleri said. “That really makes us a good group of friends and tennis players.”

Senior and men's tennis player Thomas Machado takes the court. Photo Credit: Maison Clemente

With Barry now ranked No. 1 in the nation, the Buccaneers are entering the spring season with championship expectations once again. The rankings also determined seedings for the upcoming ITA Indoor Championship, where Barry will face the eighth-seeded hosts University of Indianapolis in the quarterfinals.

As the season continues, the message from Barry men’s tennis remains clear: the Buccaneers are not satisfied with preseason recognition. With historic ITA Cup success, a roster filled with talent, and a culture built on resilience and unity, Barry is aiming to finish the year exactly where it began, which is being on top of Division II tennis.