2025 Lions Tennis Season Preview

The York University Lions tennis team is back for a new season after what was, "a very successful" 2024, according to head coach Ken Crosina, which saw the men's team win its second OUA bronze medal in three seasons and the women's program put together a 7-2 regular season, including winning their final six matches, before winning the OUA consolation final.

 While the goal is, of course, to win, a key focus of the Lions program is on inclusivity and development.

"We have 10, 11, 12 players on the team depending on the season, and we try to reward them for being good team players and good teammates," Crosina said. "I don't think you're going to grow the program if we play our best six players all the time. Part of growing a program is letting players hit the court, and I think that's helped us build a stronger program." 

Crosina says the proof is in the pudding of the growth of the Lions program, with results over the last two seasons signifying significant traction.

"We've won two bronze medals on the men's side in the last three years," he said. "More people are coming to our tryouts than ever before, more people are talking tennis around York, so we're doing the right things."

The Lions enter 2025 hoping to have some more depth throughout their lineup, which can perhaps help them make a push towards an OUA championship finals berth.

"We have some more strength," Crosina said. "What their results have been and how they compete now that they're a year older and competing against older players, you don't really know until you get into game action."

The point Crosina makes about the elevation of competition is an important one, given the wide age range of players competing in OUA tennis. While players typically play against those the same age or a year apart, they now have the potential to play against players much older.

 "There's typically going to be a significant difference (between younger and older athletes)," he said. "Whether it's in how they carry themselves, their physique, or the mental side of the game, there's a big difference."

 The Lions will be losing their top player on the men's side in 2024 OUA all-star Max Tokarev, someone who will be tough to replace. However, Crosina thinks some current players can take an elevated role on the team to help fill the void left by Tokarev.

"He's a hell of a player and a great teammate," he said of Tokarev. "A young player like Lucas Popa is someone we expect more from. We expect he'll be comfortable playing higher in the lineup."

Another name to watch on the men's side is David Gauberg, a vetern piece whose role will increase with the loss of Tokarev.

"He'll play (on) Line 1 for us, and we're very comfortable that he can win," Crosina said.

"We've also got a young guy in Christian Giusto who's really solid," Crosina continued. "He's got one of those sneaky games. He's a battler, he doesn't serve very hard, he doesn't hit the forehand or backhand very hard, but he's got an all-court game. He can do a lot of positive things that make a big difference."

On the women's side, it's a similar story for a team that had potential to be a medal contender at last year's OUA championship.

"We've got some young players we'll expect some good things from," Crosina said.

He named Iasmina Lupsa, a third-year player, Palak Balsara, now entering her third year, and a pair of second-years in Selene Woo and Nina Lazerevic as some players to watch this season.

"Palak is a strong player," Crosina said of Balsara. "Selene, we expect great things out of her, so we're expecting a little bit more from these youngsters.

"We've got some players who were first- or second-year (players) last year that we'll expect big things from this year on the women's side.

 The Lions expectations remain the same as they have been since Crosina took over along with Melissa Cutler in 2022: be in contention for an OUA championship medal.

"We go into the season thinking we should be in the bronze medal match, and if we can get one or two more good players, we feel we can really make a push for the silver."

The Lions kick off the 2025 season on Friday evening against the Ottawa Gee-Gees at 6:30 pm before hosting the Queen's Gaels on Saturday at 5:30 and the Waterloo Warriors Sunday, also at 5:30 pm. All matches will be played at Mayfair Club – West in North York.