Men's Tennis Welcomes Four to 2026-27 Roster
8/10/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University Men's Tennis team will add four players to its 2026-27 roster with the addition of three freshmen and one transfer, announced by head coach Ben Roeser.
Juwan Bae, Nicolas Bellas, Rin Kojima and Matei Daniel Stan are the newest Bisons.
We have a big class this year, filled with a lot of talent, said Roeser.
Throughout this recruiting class, we worked to identify young men who we felt were ready to develop on and off the court. We wanted to continue to raise our standards for Lipscomb Men's Tennis, and I believe these young men will help meet expectations. I am beyond excited to get to work with them and see them work with our current student athletes.
Below is information about each player.
Juwan Bae, Jr.; Bucheon, South Korea; Alabama A&M University
Bae enters his third collegiate season after transferring from Alabama A&M (2026) and Cowley College (2025).
During his time at Alabama A&M, he accumulated a singles record of 8-9 and a doubles record of 8-8, earning accolades such as the SWAC Newcomer of the Year, a spot on the All-SWAC First Team for No. 4 Singles, and recognition as part of the SWAC Doubles Team of the Year. Additionally, he was a SWAC Fall Individual Tournament Doubles Champion and part of the SWAC All-Tournament Team, helping Alabama A&M win the SWAC regular season conference championship.
At Cowley College, Bae achieved a singles record of 12-6 and a doubles record of 10-5. His performance earned him All-America honors by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in Doubles and a Second Team NJCAA All-American in Singles, where he finished in the finals at the No. 6 flight.
In Doubles, he and his partner Dan Hosono finished fourth in the country in the junior college rankings administered by the ITA.
Bae expressed his decision to join Lipscomb saying, I had actually played against Lipscomb before, and I could tell right away that they had a strong, competitive team. On top of that, Coach Ben reached out and actively recruited me, which showed me how much the program wanted me and cared about bringing in the right players. Combined with the scholarship support and the direction the program is heading, it felt like the right fit for me.
Nicolas Bellas; Fr.; A Coruña, Spain; IMG Academy (Florida)
Bellas brings his experience from IMG Academy in Florida, where he honed his skills under the guidance of Coach Aggelos Venicelos.
On the international circuit, he has won tournaments in Puerto Rico (ITF J60) and was ranked No. 4 under-16 in Spain.
Bellas chose Lipscomb University to further his personal and athletic development, stating, Because I think it is a great place to improve as a person and player.
With a deep admiration for tennis legend Rafael Nadal, Bellas looks up to him as his favorite professional athlete and most admired person.
Rin Kojima; Fr.; Tokyo, Japan; S High School
Kojima arrives at Lipscomb with comprehensive training from the esteemed Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy and the Blue Six Training Club. During his time at these facilities, Kojima honed his skills and demonstrated a strong commitment to the sport.
Kojima attended high school online in Tokyo, Japan, allowing him the flexibility to focus on his tennis training while maintaining his academic pursuits. His dedication and perseverance were evident as he overcame rigorous training sessions alongside his teammates, ultimately achieving the milestone of reaching the national tournament.
Kojima chose Lipscomb University for its excellent balance between athletics and academics, highlighting the institution's appeal to student-athletes who seek to excel in both areas.
Matei Daniel Stan; Bucharest, Romania; Liceul Teoretic Nicolae Iorga
During his prep career, he finished 2nd at an ITF J60 junior tournament and secured 3rd place at both the U16 and U18 National Championships, as well as at an ITF J30 junior tournament.
Matei chose Lipscomb for its strong academic and athletic programs, noting the university's private Christian values and commitment to community. He believes Lipscomb will provide the opportunity to grow both academically and athletically.
