ARLINGTON, Texas (April 30, 2026) – Top-ranked Lubbock Christian University made a resounding statement ahead of the Lone Star Conference Championships, as the Chaparrals swept the league's top individual honors and placed multiple standouts on the All-Conference and All-Academic teams, the conference office announced Wednesday evening at the annual awards banquet held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington.
 
Headlining the honorees, junior Kelly Giese was named Lone Star Conference Men's Tennis Singles Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and teamed with senior Mattia Ghedin to earn Doubles Team of the Year recognition, marking a historic haul for the program. In addition, head coach Hutton Jones was named LSC Coach of the Year after guiding LCU to its first regular-season conference championship with a perfect 8-0 league mark.
 
Giese, a redshirt junior from Manhattan Beach, Calif., has authored one of the most dominant seasons in program history. Ranked No. 4 nationally, he enters postseason play with a 32-5 overall singles record, including a 21-1 mark in dual matches—all at the No. 1 position. His only loss came against an NCAA Division I opponent, and he has compiled a perfect 8-0 record in conference play while defeating nine nationally ranked opponents. Giese carries a 19-match winning streak into the postseason and currently holds a program single-season record with 32 singles victories, further cementing his legacy as one of the top players in NCAA Division II.
 
In doubles, Giese and Ghedin have been equally impressive, posting a 17-6 record together at the No. 1 position and earning a top-10 national ranking throughout conference play. The duo went 7-1 in Lone Star Conference action and holds a 4-1 record against nationally ranked doubles teams, showcasing consistency at the top of the lineup.
 
Ghedin also earned First Team All-LSC Singles honors following a strong senior campaign. The Treviso, Italy native is 26-10 overall in singles play, including an 18-4 mark in dual matches and a perfect 8-0 record in conference competition. He has been a steady presence in the middle of the lineup, primarily competing at the No. 3 position, and adds to an already decorated career that includes prior all-conference and academic honors.
 
Joining Giese on the First Team All-LSC Singles list, the Chaparrals placed multiple players across the all-conference teams, highlighting the program's depth. Senior Andres De Los Rios and junior Pablo Segura each earned Second Team All-LSC Singles recognition after standout seasons. De Los Rios, ranked No. 31 nationally, is 28-11 overall and 15-6 in dual play, while Segura, ranked No. 20 nationally, holds a 24-12 record and continues to be a key contributor at the No. 2 position.
 
In doubles, De Los Rios and Segura garnered Honorable Mention All-LSC honors after producing a 15-7 dual record together at the No. 2 spot, including a 6-2 mark in conference play. The pairing has been a consistent force in the middle of the doubles order, complementing LCU's top-flight success.
 
Sophomore Marco Seccia and freshman Andrea Rossi Principe were also recognized with Honorable Mention All-LSC Doubles honors. The duo combined for a 12-4 record in dual matches at the No. 3 position and went 5-1 in conference play, providing LCU with reliable production throughout the lineup.
 
Seccia added Honorable Mention All-LSC Singles recognition as well after posting a 15-4 overall record and an unblemished 6-0 mark in Lone Star Conference play, primarily at the No. 6 position. His consistency at the bottom of the lineup played a key role in LCU's undefeated conference season.
 
Beyond on-court accolades, the Chaparrals were well represented in the classroom. Giese, Ghedin and Segura were each named to the LSC All-Academic Team, recognizing their combined excellence in athletics and academics. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade-point average while making significant contributions on the court.
 
Jones' Coach of the Year honor marks the seventh of his career and his first at Lubbock Christian, as he continues to add to a résumé that includes more than 900 career victories and 24 conference championships.
 
In his first full season leading the Chaparrals, Jones has guided LCU to a 19-5 overall record and the program's first Lone Star Conference regular-season title, building on last year's historic run to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
 
As a team, LCU's presence across the postseason awards underscores its emergence as the conference's premier program this season. The Chaparrals will now turn their attention to the Lone Star Conference Championships at Arlington Tennis Center, where they enter as the tournament's No. 1 seed. Due to weather delays impacting the schedule, LCU awaits its semifinal opponent in Friday's round, with the winner advancing to Saturday's championship match.