WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — William & Mary men's tennis opens its 2026 fall season this weekend at the Porter's Neck Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.

The three-day event runs Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20, at Porter's Neck Country Club and is hosted by UNCW. The tournament field includes William & Mary, UNCW, Mercyhurst, Queens, Presbyterian and North Carolina A&T.

Head coach Jeff Kader begins his 12th season leading the Tribe after W&M advanced to the semifinals of the CAA Championship last spring. The Tribe won three of its final four matches, including a 4-0 victory over No. 3 seed Campbell in the CAA quarterfinals. W&M became the first No. 6 seed to advance to the semifinals of the championship.

Three Tribe players will compete in Wilmington, including senior Nikita Bortnichek, junior Theo Nilsson and freshman Omar Rhazali.

Bortnichek returns after earning All-CAA Third Team honors in singles last season. He posted a 12-16 overall singles record, including a 9-10 mark during the dual-match season.

Nilsson enters his junior season after competing in both singles and doubles for the Tribe last year. He finished 7-11 overall in doubles, including a 5-9 mark during dual-match play.

Rhazali, a native of Stamford, Conn., will make his William & Mary debut this weekend.

In singles action, Rhazali will compete in the A1 flight, Bortnichek will take part in the A2 flight and Nilsson will compete in the C flight. Rhazali opens against Queens' Jan Montero Diaz on Friday at 12:15 p.m., while Bortnichek faces North Carolina A&T's Josh Collidor at 10:45 a.m. Nilsson opens against Mercyhurst's Francisco Sanchez.

The Tribe will also be represented in the A and C doubles flights.

The Porter's Neck Invitational marks the fourth consecutive fall in which the Tribe has competed in Wilmington.

Following this weekend's action, W&M travels to Lynchburg, Va., for the Liberty Fall Invitational, Sept. 25-27. The Tribe will also compete at the River City Open and ITA Atlantic Region Championships in October before closing its fall season at home with the Tribe Fall Invite, Nov. 6-8.

W&M Fall Schedule

Sept. 18-20 — Porter's Neck Invitational (Wilmington, N.C.)
Sept. 25-27 — Liberty Fall Invitational (Lynchburg, Va.)
Oct. 2-4 — River City Open (Richmond, Va.)
Oct. 8-12 — ITA Atlantic Region Championships (Blacksburg, Va.)
Nov. 6-8 — Tribe Fall Invite (Williamsburg, Va.)