From Gloom to Glory: Dayton Tennis Star Leads Team to the Brink of A-10 Championship.
Mitchell Colter | Contributing Writer
*Dayton men’s tennis players celebrate after clinching a crucial doubles match point during an indoor Atlantic 10 Conference match. The teammates erupted with emotion, showcasing the energy, unity and determination. This carried them through the contest. Wearing their Chapel Blue shorts, the Flyers drew cheers from supporters in the background. The moment captured the intensity and camaraderie of college tennis, as Dayton continued its push through conference play with a key victory on the doubles court.
After the regular season, Dayton tennis achieved the No. 1 seed in the conference for the Atlantic 10 tournament. The team ended up losing to VCU in the conference finals, but that doesn’t summarize the team’s 2024-25 season. A big contributor to Dayton’s success was sophomore Mikkel Zinder. Proudly representing his home-area of Philadelphia, Zinder had a dominant regular season, finishing with a 19-1 record in singles competition.
“Mikkel is someone who’s not just going to sit around and let things happen, he’s going to find a way to get better every day,” said head coach Ryan Meyer.
Approaching this season, Zinder faced challenges and was required to work hard to be able to compete. Before this current season, Zinder had not competed in a match for five and a half months. In the fall, Zinder suffered a major injury that sidelined him for most of the team’s offseason. While participating in weight room training, the star suffered an periosteal avulsion injury in his right patellar. Following the injury, Zinder was required to wear a brace on his leg for a month.
*Dayton’s Mikkel Zinder focuses during a pivotal moment of his doubles match against Davidson at the South Regency Tennis Center in Centerville, Ohio. The sophomore played with poise and intensity as he helped anchor the Flyers in a tightly contested final regular season Atlantic 10 matchup. Zinder, a consistent presence in Dayton’s doubles lineup, demonstrated strong court awareness and chemistry with his partner as the pair worked to secure an edge in the overall match.
“He’s very consistent, even on things that sometimes you’re limited to. He found a way to maximize the process,” said team trainer Casey Cathrall.
According to the Dayton tennis staff, Zinder did whatever it took for a successful recovery. Though Zinder experienced a long amount of time with scarce mobility, he worked with the trainers everyday for recovery. Cathrall emphasized that he wanted Zinder to gain his quad strength back without loading his tendon.
“Nate, Casey, my coaches; they were really the main guys that helped me push through it. Telling me that, I’ll be back every day, better and stronger. They were the ones that kept pushing me through every day,” said Zinder
After injuring his lower body, Zinder spent considerable time in the weight room, focusing on building his upper-body strength with the help of trainers. Meyer commended Zinder for consistently showing up to team training and continuing to work towards his recovery. During practices, Zinder would sit on the bench and hit from a sitting position to attain rhythm. At the court, he also took mental reps to stay sharp, so he wouldn’t fall behind mentally once he fully recovered. This season, Meyer recognizes Zinder as one of the most consistent players on the squad. He also believes the player has taken a significant step forward in his development since returning from injury.
“To me, he’s either the best player or second best player in our conference,” said Meyer.
Zinder’s consistent play and leadership have been key to Dayton’s success in doubles this season. His ability to read opponents and stay composed under pressure has made him a reliable presence at both the net and baseline. Against Davidson, he remained focused through extended rallies and critical deuce points. This helped the Flyers gain early momentum. As Dayton moved deeper into Atlantic 10 Conference play, Zinder’s impact continued to set the tone for strong starts in doubles competition.
Zinder closed out the season with an impressive resume. The star made school history by helping Dayton secure its first-ever regular season win against Atlantic 10 conference rival VCU.
“That was pretty insane and especially at VCU and just to get a win for Ryan. I mean, he’s never beaten them, just for the school itself, now we’re sitting at the one seed in the conference,” Zinder replied as his favorite season moment.
In the first match of the season, Zinder pulled off an impressive comeback win, upsetting Big Ten opponent Purdue in an underdog matchup. Meyer felt that match set the tone for Zinder’s season, as he continued to play with grit and toughness throughout.
Though Zinder and the Flyers finished the season with an unfavorable result, they remain optimistic for the future.
“Losses are gonna happen and it’s about how you recover from that and move on; how you’re able to flush those thoughts,” said Zinder.
This season, Dayton was one match short from making school history by reaching the NCAA tournament. The team believes it will take that step next season.