The UBC men’s tennis team captured a national title for the second time in three years at the inaugural U Sports Canadian University Tennis Championship in Montréal on August 11.
After picking up a comprehensive 6–1 win against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the semifinals of the national tournament, the T-Birds went on to defeat the Laval Rouge et Or 4–2 in the championship game in dramatic fashion. UBC player Jared McLean ultimately clinched the title in a tiebreaker match after saving a match point.
The team was led by tournament MVP Marvin Kao, who was undefeated in the 2024 season, and head coach Barak Jacob, who was named Coach of the Year at the end of the tournament.
Fifth-year player Graeme McIntosh spoke highly of Jacob, describing him as an “absolute firecracker” and an invaluable instrument in the team’s success. Both McIntosh and Jacob were keen to highlight the importance of leadership and teamwork in the team’s success. Having players who were on the 2022 championship team, Jacob tried to instill similar values and philosophies in his roster that led to their prior success.
“For me as a coach, my philosophy is always you play better when you play for others and not just for yourself,” said Jacob.
Jacob also stressed the important roles of all team members, including those who didn’t step on the court, as well as the assistant coaches. Due to the way university tennis competitions are formatted, only a fraction of any given roster regularly receives playing time. But both Jacob and McIntosh emphasized that every member was invaluable in providing support and leadership throughout the lengthy season, which extended late into the summer.
“Everybody had each other's back. Everybody was locked in whether they were playing or not,” said McIntosh.
“We were just a loud team — everybody knew we were there right away," he said, highlighting the bench's energy during matches. "I think that goes a long way.”
For the upcoming year, Jacob and his team remain steadfast in their goal to serve up more national championships for the T-Birds.
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