It has been 14 years since the Broncos last heard their name called for the 64-team NCAA Tennis Team Championship. After a historic season that pushed them to their highest national ranking since 2013, that drought is officially over. Santa Clara’s coach, Niall Angus, who was named the 2026 WCC coach of the year, is no stranger to the NCAA tournament. As a player at Texas A&M, he led the program to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Sweet Sixteens and one Round of 32 from 2010-2013. Coincidentally, 2012, one of Angus’ tournament years, also marked the last time Santa Clara advanced to the NCAA tournament. 14 years later, Angus is back in the NCAA tournament, but this time from a coaching role. Similar to Santa Clara’s men’s basketball program, the team’s first-round matchup is against a well-funded SEC powerhouse: Auburn University, who hold a record of 16-10.  Despite the tough competition lying ahead, the Broncos are not backing down, “because we’ve beaten the likes of Alabama and now USD, it’s not like we’re scared,” said Luca Bluett ’28. “Playing these SEC schools and these big-name schools. I think it’s really cool, especially for us at Santa Clara.” Five Broncos took home WCC honors this season, headlined by the top doubles pairing of Luca Bluett ’28 and John Kim ’26, who earlier in the season became the first-ever Santa Clara University men’s tennis pair to qualify for the NCAA Individual Championships.  Alexander Watanabe Eriksson ’26 and Luca Lemaitre ’27 both made the WCC singles first team. Kim was also named to the singles second team, with Valentin Faure ’28 receiving singles honorable mention.  In last week’s WCC tournament, the Broncos won their opening-round matchup against Saint Mary’s College before falling in the semi-finals to Pepperdine. With the conference tournament in the rearview and a tournament bid secured, men’s tennis shifts its focus to Texas. The match against the No. 20-ranked Auburn Tigers is set for Friday, May 1, at 1 p.m., at the Baylor regional site in Waco, streaming live on ESPN+. 📝 @charliewhite268 📸 @ninaglickphoto & Courtesy of Santa Clara Athletics

Laura DaCosta Locatelli ’27 and Bella Rene ’27 have been elected next Associated Student Government president and vice president, the ASG election committee announced Thursday morning, capping a high-profile election cycle marked by increased engagement and online tension. Addison Warhank ’28 was also elected Senate chair alongside Ethan Pessoa Jinian ’29 and Emerson Strub ’29 as sophomore senators. Current Vice President and election committee chair Sophia Standard ’26 said vote totals would not be released, citing concerns about student well-being amid reports of online harassment. “I believe doing so would be detrimental to the well-being of the candidates involved,” Standard said, adding that releasing totals could “contribute further” to bullying on anonymous platforms. Despite the contentious environment, DaCosta Locatelli said she and Rene are ready to represent the student body. “It’s really exciting,” she said. “I’m really honored that people put this trust in Bella and I.” DaCosta Locatelli and Rene pointed to the competitive race as a turning point for ASG visibility, with more students expressing interest in joining. “One byproduct of the past few weeks is that it gave ASG a lot more visibility,” DaCosta Locatelli said. Rene emphasized accessibility and outreach as central to their administration. “We want everyone who wants to help make the school a better place to join,” she said. Addressing speculation that circulated during the campaign, DaCosta Locatelli said she is not related to former University President Paul Locatelli. She added that claims of nepotism were “a little frustrating” given the work put into the campaign. “It is frustrating to hear that people are diminishing that to some type of nepotism that doesn’t exist,” she said. “But it’s also pretty funny; it’s not weighing on me super heavy.” Looking ahead, the pair said they aim to expand student participation and build initiatives that last beyond their term. “We want to create,” Rene said, “a culture that lasts well beyond us.” Editor’s note: Additional coverage of the ASG election, including extended interviews with all candidates, forthcoming. 📝+📷: Dylan Ryu