The Elon Phoenix took over championship weekend.

Both Elon men’s and women’s tennis captured titles at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships on April 19, marking a program sweep defined by breakthrough moments and a shared emphasis on team energy.

For the men, the victory was years in the making.

After falling to the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, Seahawks in four straight CAA finals, the Phoenix finally broke through. The first step was flipping the doubles point. 

After senior Veljko Krstic and sophomore Nikola Parichkov sealed Elon’s first doubles win, senior Oskar Antinheimo and freshman Nick Fisk rallied from a 5-3 deficit to win their doubles match, clinching the crucial early point for Elon. Grabbing the opening doubles point is something the Phoenix had never done in any of their matchups against the Seahawks. 

“I felt like we were doing the right things the whole match,” Antinheimo said. “We just stepped up, played more aggressive, showed positive body language and put the pressure on them.”

That shift proved decisive. Antinheimo fell to his knees in excitement after his comeback victory in doubles. With the confidence and momentum on their side, Antinheimo said the team knew they could get the job done. 

From there, Elon delivered what head coach Maciek Sykut called one of the team’s most complete performances of the season. The Phoenix closed out the match behind strong singles play, including a key point from Antinheimo.

For a senior class that had come up short in past CAA finals, this moment carried extra weight.

“It felt unbelievable, kind of surreal,” Antinheimo said. “Four years of hard work, and finally getting the job done.”

Sykut echoed that sentiment, pointing to both perseverance and timing, speaking to the continued hard work seniors on the team had put in. 

“They came up short three years in a row in the finals to the same team,” Sykut said. “To send them off in this fashion, it was pure joy.”

While men’s tennis broke through, the women’s team reinforced its dominance.

The Elon women's tennis team raises the CAA trophy after winning its second conference title in two straight years on April 19. Courtesy of Elon Athletics. 

Elon women’s tennis captured its second consecutive CAA title, relying on a mix of experience and composure in key moments. Strong doubles play set the tone early, with consistent partnerships — including sophomores Lisa Kranec and Cornelia Kack — helping establish momentum.

“I feel like we have a really good understanding of each other’s game,” Kranec said. “We like to be aggressive, get to the net and take control of points.”

That aggressive mindset carried into singles, where Kranec ultimately clinched the championship in a tense third-set tiebreaker.

Her approach was simple: reset after every point.

“Zero-all, just reset,” Kranec said. “I kept telling myself, ‘Another one, another one.’”

The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Whoever won the tiebreaker would be CAA champions. Both the Elon women’s and men’s teams were watching. 

Despite the pressure of the moment, she said it never fully registered.

“I didn’t even feel it,” Kranec said. “I was just so focused on what I wanted to do.”

Head coach Elizabeth Anderson credited the entire lineup for setting up the clinch, highlighting contributions across the board — including Cornelia’s steady play and Mariana’s energy and resilience.

“Lisa did a tremendous job, but it was a total team effort,” Anderson said. “They competed with tons of energy and really trusted each other.”

That energy has become a defining trait of the program.

“How loud can we get?” Kranec said. “That’s something we pride ourselves on.”

According to Anderson, that mindset is contagious.

“I think that energy makes a big difference,” she said. “They play together, they fight together, and that shows up in moments like this.”

The back-to-back title also reflects continuity. With a similar lineup returning from last year’s championship team, the Phoenix entered the tournament with confidence and experience.

“We went into the season knowing we did it once, we can do it again,” Kranec said.

Now, both teams turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament, where they’ll face a new level of competition. But they carry the same belief. 

“We’re playing with house money,” Antinheimo said. “We’re going to enjoy it and put our best foot forward.”

After a weekend that saw both programs reach the summit of the CAA, Elon enters the national stage as a program peaking at the right time.