Stone and Drake Capture ITA Regional Doubles Title

The Westmont duo secured a championship victory in Fresno to qualify for the upcoming ITA national tournament.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Tennis

Stone and Drake Capture ITA Regional Doubles Title

Live Poll

Should your local college sports teams prioritize local student-athletes over national talent?

Austin Stone and JD Drake won the ITA Division II West Regional Doubles Championship at Fresno Pacific University. They defeated Ethan Terry and Seth Newman with a final match score of 7-5, 4-6, 10-5.

Why it matters

The victory marks a significant milestone for Westmont as it claims its first ITA regional doubles title since transitioning to NCAA Division II. The win extends the duo's momentum as they head toward national competition.

Stone and Drake secured the title with a 7-5, 4-6, 10-5 victory after trailing 1-5 in the opening set. The pair closed out their win by taking the super tiebreaker 10-5.

The players

Austin Stone

He is a Westmont tennis player who returned to the court following a 14-month absence from competition.

JD Drake

He is a Westmont tennis player who partnered with Stone to win the regional doubles title.

Solon Au

He is a tennis player who advanced through the singles draw by defeating the tournament's number-one seed.

The details

Stone and Drake staged a dramatic first-set comeback before falling in the second and ultimately dominating the tiebreaker to clinch the trophy. Meanwhile, in the singles draw, Solon Au earned a notable upset against the number-one seed, while teammates Brandon Hsiung and Driss Sedrati also made deep tournament runs.

The ITA Division II West Regional tournament took place from October 18-20, 2026.
Westmont won its previous ITA regional doubles title in 2013.
The ITA Division II Singles & Doubles Championships occur from November 4-8, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This regional championship victory significantly boosts Westmont's standing as the team prepares for the national stage in Tuscaloosa. The win marks a turning point for the program as it integrates into the competitive NCAA Division II landscape.

Stone and Drake secured an automatic qualification spot for the national tournament in Tuscaloosa with this win. Their 10-match winning streak now positions them as a key pair to watch in upcoming NCAA Division II bracket projections.

The takeaway

The duo demonstrated resilience by recovering from a 1-5 deficit in the opening set to capture the regional title. This performance highlights the importance of mental toughness and consistency in high-stakes tiebreaker scenarios.