ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowboy tennis team had a strong weekend hosting the 2026 Division III men's ITA Southwest regional at the Streich Tennis Center and around Abilene.
 
Payne Smith, Jacob Cooper, Zeus Celedonio, Gabriel Harris, Maddux Foster, and newly added to the roster Matt Abbey each won the opening match of A singles to advance to the round of 32.
 
Smith continued, beating Jack Zolas from Southwestern 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. He then defeated Trinity's Brodie Keller 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinal. Smith fell to the No. 1 overall seed Kishan Kersten from Trinity, 6-0, 6-4 in the quarterfinal.
 
Abbey defeated Jaco Snyman from ETBU in a split, 7-6(7-3), 4-6, (10-2) in the second round before dropping his round of 16 match to Trinity's Jared Perry.
 
Foster won 4-6, 6-2, (10-6) against Fernando Vazquez from LeTourneau in the second round before going down against Ryan Warren from Trinity.
 
Harris won the second round against Jairo Kirk from UMHB, coming back 4-6, 6-4, (10-3) before his round of 16 match loss to Christopher Langford from Southwestern.
 
Nicolai Paraian played well for the Cowboys in the B draw with a trip to the quarterfinal. He defeated players from Schreiner and ETBU before going down in a split to UMHB's Brendan Stafford, 6-4, 4-6, (10-6).
 
Parker DeCosmo went all the way to the C draw finals, defeating players from Austin College, LeTourneau, and Howard Payne before a close loss 6-4, 6-2 against Thomas Mason from Schreiner in the final.
 
Hardin-Simmons tennis will host its Alumni Weekend on Oct. 17 at the Streich Tennis Center.
 
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