GILBERT, Ariz. (May 27, 2025) — Following a historic NCAA Division II semifinal appearance and record-setting season, Lubbock Christian University men's tennis earned three major honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, as the ITA South Central Region announced its 2024-25 award recipients.
 
Sophomore standout Pablo Segura was named the ITA South Central Player to Watch, redshirt sophomore Kelly Giese claimed ITA Most Improved Player honors, and first-year assistant coach Ben Grumley was recognized as the region's Assistant Coach of the Year. The honors are a testament to LCU's meteoric rise in collegiate tennis, as the Chaparrals completed their third year as a program with a 25-3 record, a Lone Star Conference Tournament title, and the program's deepest-ever postseason run—culminating in a national semifinal finish in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
 
Segura, a sophomore from Playa del Carmen, Mexico, continued his ascent as one of the nation's premier players. He became the first player in program history to post 30 singles wins in a season, finishing 30-5 overall with a 22-2 duals record—15-1 at the No. 2 position. Ranked No. 13 nationally in singles by the ITA, Segura also went 22-13 in doubles, primarily with Andres De Los Rios, tying the program's single-season doubles wins record. He ends his sophomore campaign as LCU's all-time singles wins leader (57) and win percentage leader (.851), and was named the Lone Star Conference Tournament MVP. His second consecutive 20-win season solidified his reputation as a dynamic and durable competitor, currently riding a 10-match win streak.
 
Giese, a redshirt sophomore from Manhattan Beach, Calif., delivered a breakout campaign en route to the Most Improved Player award. The 2025 Lone Star Conference Player of the Year posted a 24-9 singles record—going 19-7 in duals, with 14 wins at No. 1. He compiled a 21-11 mark in doubles, including a 15-9 record at the top line. Giese finished the season ranked No. 9 nationally in singles and No. 35 in doubles (with Jordan Georgiev). His improvement was especially evident against elite competition, posting a 7-4 mark against nationally ranked singles foes and notching a 14-match win streak from March to May. Giese now ranks second all-time in program history in career singles wins (49) and first in doubles victories (47), holding the school record for doubles win percentage (.712).
 
Grumley, in his first season with the program, served as a steadying force amid coaching transitions. With the Chaps navigating a midseason head coaching vacancy, Grumley assumed on-court leadership duties before the late-season arrival of current head coach Hutton Jones. A former three-time NAIA All-American at William Woods University in Missouri, Grumley's presence helped guide the Chaps through a 19-match win streak, a conference tournament championship, and a postseason run to the national semifinals. His influence was felt both tactically and developmentally, particularly among LCU's young core.
 
The regional recognition continues a growing tradition for LCU Tennis, which has now earned seven ITA South Central awards since 2023. Giese becomes the first Chap to receive honors in multiple years, after claiming Rookie of the Year in 2022-23. Previous recipients also include former coaches Jason Speegle (Coach of the Year) and Marcelo Mann (Assistant Coach of the Year) from the 2022-23 season.
 
The Chaparrals, who reached the NCAA national semifinals for the first time this season, marked the first Texas-based men's tennis program to advance that far since Texas State in 1984. They also represented the only private institution to reach the 2025 NCAA DII men's tennis Final Four.