Leo Galliano's impressive season has UND back near the top of the Summit

Apr. 23—GRAND FORKS — The UND men's tennis team lost seven of its nine players from last year's team, which finished second in the Summit League.

Four of the top five players either graduated or transferred, making this season one of unknowns.

"I think what we are most proud of," head coach Tom Boysen said about himself and assistant Kyle Anderson, "is how a new group took ownership. They said, 'We don't want a rebuilding year. We want to build off of last year.'"

They did.

Thanks in large part to an impressive season by sophomore Leo Galliano, the Fighting Hawks are right back in the same spot as last season.

They finished second in the Summit League and will play Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. Friday in Tulsa, Okla., in the conference tournament semifinals.

The championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Galliano had a terrific freshman season in 2025, going 18-4 at the No. 3 singles position. He was named the Summit League's Newcomer of the Year.

With No. 1 singles player Leandro Zgraggen transferring to Memphis and Ange-Kevin Koua graduating, Galliano was forced to move up to No. 1 this season.

Going head-to-head with each opponent's top player, Galliano is 17-2 at the No. 1 singles spot.

"We could tell early last year, he was going to be very good," Boysen said. "By the end of last season, we could see the potential. It was almost a sigh of relief, with all the players leaving, that he was capable of playing No. 1. I'm not sure any of us could have predicted 17-2, but he did look capable physically and mentally. We went into the season with him as a very legitimate Summit League player at No. 1. To do what he's done is icing on the cake."

Galliano was named all-Summit League this season, while freshman teammate Darrshan Suresh Kumar was named the Summit League's Newcomer of the Year.

Galliano, of Chalais, Switzerland, is 35-6 in singles during his collegiate career.

"He's one of the more intelligent players I've seen in college tennis," Boysen said. "He breaks down opponents extremely well and almost never beats himself. He finds a way to play points his opponent doesn't like to play. It doesn't take him long to settle into a game plan and tactics. He's relentless once two or three things work."

Boysen said Galliano's physical attributes are impressive as well.

"He has a great backhand," he said. "He's a lefty who knows how to use his serve. For a guy his size, he moves extremely well. He covers the court really well. His anticipation and the way he uses space on the court to his advantage is next level."

UND has been able to withstand a season-ending injury to Walker Valentine, who played No. 1 doubles and No. 6 singles.

Grand Forks Central's Cole Wilber, a two-time state singles champion, has come into the lineup at No. 6 and provided depth.