Cardinals Conclude Louisville Invitational

Friday, October 2

LOUISVILLE, KY

University of Louisville

Louisville Invitational

October 06, 2026 | Men's Tennis

Freshman duo Hristov and Taylor reach tournament finals

By: Harper Hawkins

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville men's tennis team hosted seven teams for the Louisville Invitational, a three-day tournament at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

The Cardinals were represented by two new doubles pairings: Russell Lokko/Artem Dmytrenko and Maksim Hristov/Preston Taylor.

The team concluded the weekend with seven victories, five in singles and two in doubles. Freshman duo Maksim Hristov and Preston Taylor won their duals on days one and two, each capturing two singles victories. Their performance advanced them to the tournament finals, where they captured a doubles victory over Indiana.

Up next for the Cardinals is the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships. The tournament will take place in College Station, Tenn. and will begin on October 8 and run through October 13.

Results

Day One:
First Round: Lokko/Dmytrenko (Louisville) vs Parkins/Berson (Bellarmine):
Lokko/Dmytrenko (LOU) def. Parkins/Berson (BEL) 6-4
Russell Lokko (LOU) def. Ryan Parkins (BEL) 7-6(4), 6-3
Colby Berson (BEL) def. Artem Dmytrenko (LOU) 7-5, 6-3
Lokko/Dmytrenko win, 2-1

First Round: Hristov/Taylor (Louisville) vs Hand/Balthazor (Butler):
Hand/Balthazor (BUT) def. Hristov/Taylor (LOU) 7-5
Maksim Hristov (LOU) def. Shane Hand (BUT) 7-5, 7-6(10)
Preston Taylor (LOU) def. Nicholas Balthazor (BUT) 6-2,6-4
Hristov/Taylor win, 2-1

Day Two:
Semifinals: Lokko/Dmytrenko (Louisville) vs. Zauber/Badlani (Indiana):
Zauber/Badlani (IU) def. Lokko/Dmytrenko (LOU) 7-5
Ariel Zauber (IU) def. Russell Lokko (LOU) 6-2. 7-5
Aryan Badlani (IU) def. Artem Dmytrenko (LOU) 6-4, 6-3
Zauber/Badlani win, 3-0

Semifinals: Hristov/Taylor (Louisville) vs Abarca/McMillin (Tennessee)
Abarca/McMillin (TEN) def. Hristov/Taylor (LOU) 6-3
Maksim Hristov (LOU) def. Adrein Abarca (TEN) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Preston Taylor (LOU) def. Woodson McMillin (TEN) 6-3, 6-3
Hristov/Taylor win, 2-1

Day Three:
Finals: Hristov/Taylor (Louisville) vs Raghavendra/Augustin (Indiana)
Hristov/Taylor (LOU) def. Raghavendra/Augustin (IU) 6-2
Karan Raghavendra (IU) def. Maksim Hristov (LOU) 7-5 6-4
Zavier Augustin (IU) def. Preston Taylor (LOU) 6-1, 6-2
Raghavendra/Augustin win, 2-1

Lokko (Louisville) vs Haage (DePaul)
Alexander Haage (DEP) def. Russell Lokko (LOU) 6-2, 6-2
Haage win