PROVO, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV's Marko Maksimovic and Arda Karakas won the 2026 ITA Mountain Region Men's Tennis Championship in doubles on Saturday and earned a spot in the NCAA Doubles Championship next month.
 
The Rebel duo, seeded first at the 14-team event, downed unseeded Matthew Upton and Duncan McCall of Montana on Saturday morning, 7-6 (4), 6-3, to go 5-0 and become UNLV's first-ever ITA regional doubles champions in men's tennis. The championship match was played primarily outdoors but lightning in the area sent the action indoors and, after a delay, the Rebels got the final three games needed to close things out.
 
They will now become their school's first NCAA doubles entry in 15 years when they head to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia, on Nov. 17.
 
"Two of our guys went to the NCAA championships last year (in singles) and it helps our team a lot," said UNLV head coach Andy Jackson "Marko and Arda going in doubles is going to help us a lot this year too. Also, there are still more tournaments to go to try and qualify for singles as well.
 
"From a selfish standpoint, I have been able to go to Athens, Georgia, for the NCAAs about 15 times and it is always special. Our biggest triumphs and disappointments have happened in Athens. This is the last time for the NCAA tournament to be held there for the next 10 years so I am so grateful to Marko and Arda for the opportunity to go with them to Athens. And they can beat anyone."
 
2026 ITA MEN'S TENNIS MOUNTAIN REGIONAL
Main Draw Doubles Championship
(1) Marko Maksimovic/Arda Karakas (UNLV) def. Matthew Upton/Duncan McCall (MT) 7-6 (4), 6-3

Extra Singles Match
Joel Gibson (UNLV) def. Tygen Goldammer (BYU) 6-4, 6-4