2024-25 Men's Tennis Roster
Roster
van Loben Sels, Emon

Emon van Loben Sels
- Height:
- 5-11
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Sacramento, Calif.
- High School:
- Visions In Education
Bio
UCLA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• NCAA singles qualifier (Fall 2024)
• ITA Southwest Regional Most Improved Player (2025)
• ITA Southwest Regional Player to Watch (2025)
• Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2025)
• All-Big Ten honoree (Second Team – 2025)
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team member (2025)
• Big Ten Player of the Week (April 2, 2025)
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient (2025)
• 2-time ITA Scholar-Athlete (2025, 2023)
• Big Ten Spring Academic Honor Roll member (2025)
• 6-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll member (last Winter 2025)
• Career-high ITA singles ranking: 63 (Feb. 5, 2025)
• Career-high ITA doubles ranking: 77 (Aug. 27, 2024 w/ Spencer Johnson)
2024-25
24-9 singles record (14-4 in dual matches) … 23-10 doubles mark (19-7 in dual matches) … Bruins captured Big Ten Conference Tournament championship in first season as member … logged team highs in total wins, singles wins, doubles wins and dual-match doubles wins … reached second round of NCAA Championships singles tournament, beating No. 123 Alex Chang of California … finished No. 73 in ITA singles rankings (May 21) and reached season-high No. 63 (Feb. 5) … with partner Spencer Johnson, reached season-high No. 77 in ITA doubles rankings (Aug. 27) … named ITA Southwest Regional Most Improved Player … named ITA Southwest Regional Player to Watch … named Most Outstanding Player of Big Ten Tournament after knocking off No. 62 Alexander Bernard 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3 to seal 4-3 victory that snapped top-seeded Ohio State’s 76-match home winning streak; also received Big Ten All-Tournament Team recognition after showing that included three doubles wins alongside partner Gianluca Ballotta … All-Big Ten Second Team honoree … named Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree … named ITA Scholar-Athlete ... earned spot on Big Ten Spring Academic Honor Roll ... posted majority of singles decisions on Court 2 (7-2); also finished on Courts 3 (6-1) and 4 (1-1) … posted majority of completed doubles matches on Court 3 (14-5); also finished on Courts 1 (2-1) and 2 (3-1) … won nine consecutive singles decisions from Feb. 22-April 18, including 6-2, 6-4 result over No. 94 Max Sheldon of Michigan State (April 13) … earned Big Ten Player of the Week award (April 2) after posting 2-0 singles – including clinching win versus No. 88 Vlad Breazu of Oregon – and 3-0 doubles records in conference play … posted team-high-tying four match-clinching points, including 6-1, 6-4 result over Jeremy Zhang of Illinois (March 21) … with Ballotta, clinched team-high six doubles points, including 6-4 result over Alexander Bernard/Bryce Nakashima of Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament championship match (April 27); also clinched one each alongside partner Johnson and Aadarsh Tripathi … with Ballotta, beat No. 81 Pierre-Yves Bailly/Sebastian Eriksson of Texas 7-5 in NCAA Championships quarterfinal round (May 16) … logged 10-4 record against nationally-ranked singles opponents, including 6-3, 7-6(2) win versus No. 26 Sebastian Gorzny of Texas in NCAA Championships quarterfinal round (May 16) … knocked off No. 32 Theo Dean of California 6-4, 6-3 (Feb. 1) … with Johnson, logged 2-1 record against nationally-ranked doubles opponents, including 6-4 win versus No. 84 Alex Chang/Mikey Wright of California (Feb. 1) … named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2024, Winter 2025.
2023-24
8-8 singles record (3-3 in dual matches) … 17-9 doubles mark (12-6 in dual matches) … posted majority of singles decisions on Court 6 (2-1); also finished on Courts 4 (1-0) and 5 (0-2) … majority of completed doubles matches came on Court 2 (9-4); also finished on Court 1 (3-2) … with partner Spencer Johnson, defeated two nationally-ranked doubles opponents, including 6-4 decision over No. 46 Matthew Burton/Quinn Vandecasteele of Oregon in Pac-12 Championships quarterfinal round (April 25) … with Johnson, clinched five doubles points, including 7-6(2) winner-take-all result over No. 75 Samir Banerjee/Nishesh Basavareddy of Stanford (April 12) … posted two match-clinching points, including 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 winner-take-all result over Carson Baker of Ole Miss in ITA Kickoff Weekend consolation round (Jan. 28) … with Johnson, defeated Kai Brady/Lucca Liu of UC Santa Barbara 8-2 to claim doubles title at Dennis Rizza Classic (Nov. 5) … beat Gianluca Brunkow of UC Santa Barbara 6-3, 6-4 to reach singles semifinal round at Dennis Rizza Classic (Nov. 4) … earned first career singles victory with 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 result over Pablo Perez Ramos of NJIT to reach prequalifying second round at ITA All-American Championships (Sept. 30) … named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
2022-23
Redshirted ... did not see action during tournament or dual-match portions of schedule … named ITA Scholar-Athlete ... named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Winter 2023 and Spring 2023.
PRIOR TO UCLA
Graduated from Visions In Education … Blue Chip recruit according to TennisRecruiting.net; reached high of No. 9 in 2021 … with partner Alex Fuchs, won Boys’ 18 doubles championship at 2022 National Indoor Championships in Overland Park, Kan.; also reached Boys’ 18 singles final round … with partner Ethan Schiffman, collected Boys' doubles title at 2022 Southern California Open Sectional Championships in San Diego … advanced to Boys' 18 singles semifinal round at 2022 National Winter Championships in Orlando, Fla. … reached singles quarterfinal round and doubles semifinal round (with partner Dylan Tsoi) at 2021 Boys' 16 National Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich. … with partner Owen Megargee, reached doubles semifinal round at 2021 USTA Boys' 16 National Clay Court Championships in Delray Beach, Fla. … captured Boys' 18 singles and doubles (with Schiffman) championships at Level 2: Rome Ga. event in 2021 … with partner Masato Perera, picked up Boys' 18 doubles championship at Level 2: San Diego, CA event; also won Boys' 18 singles consolation title … with Schiffman, won Boys' 16 doubles championship at 2021 Easter Bowl in San Diego … with Perera, took Boys' 18 doubles title at Level 3: Lakewood, CA event in 2021; also advanced to singles semifinal round … seized singles title at 2021 Boys' 16 Spring Individual Championships in Mobile, Ala. … earned Boys' 16 singles title at Level 2: Newport Beach, CA event in 2021.
PERSONAL
Son of Jeff and Mai … has one older brother, Yuuto, and one younger sister, Lyla … parents attended UCLA … born in Bellingham, Wash. … decided to attend UCLA because it was his dream school and it “gives the best possible balance between high-level tennis and great academics” … describes his greatest athletic thrill to date as winning Boys’ 16 doubles championship (with partner Ethan Schiffman) at 2021 Easter Bowl after trailing in multiple matches … admires Rafael Nadal for his fighting spirit … hobbies and interests include outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, skiing and fishing … speaks Japanese … aspires to be top-ranked professional tennis player … economics major.
• NCAA singles qualifier (Fall 2024)
• ITA Southwest Regional Most Improved Player (2025)
• ITA Southwest Regional Player to Watch (2025)
• Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2025)
• All-Big Ten honoree (Second Team – 2025)
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team member (2025)
• Big Ten Player of the Week (April 2, 2025)
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient (2025)
• 2-time ITA Scholar-Athlete (2025, 2023)
• Big Ten Spring Academic Honor Roll member (2025)
• 6-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll member (last Winter 2025)
• Career-high ITA singles ranking: 63 (Feb. 5, 2025)
• Career-high ITA doubles ranking: 77 (Aug. 27, 2024 w/ Spencer Johnson)
2024-25
24-9 singles record (14-4 in dual matches) … 23-10 doubles mark (19-7 in dual matches) … Bruins captured Big Ten Conference Tournament championship in first season as member … logged team highs in total wins, singles wins, doubles wins and dual-match doubles wins … reached second round of NCAA Championships singles tournament, beating No. 123 Alex Chang of California … finished No. 73 in ITA singles rankings (May 21) and reached season-high No. 63 (Feb. 5) … with partner Spencer Johnson, reached season-high No. 77 in ITA doubles rankings (Aug. 27) … named ITA Southwest Regional Most Improved Player … named ITA Southwest Regional Player to Watch … named Most Outstanding Player of Big Ten Tournament after knocking off No. 62 Alexander Bernard 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3 to seal 4-3 victory that snapped top-seeded Ohio State’s 76-match home winning streak; also received Big Ten All-Tournament Team recognition after showing that included three doubles wins alongside partner Gianluca Ballotta … All-Big Ten Second Team honoree … named Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree … named ITA Scholar-Athlete ... earned spot on Big Ten Spring Academic Honor Roll ... posted majority of singles decisions on Court 2 (7-2); also finished on Courts 3 (6-1) and 4 (1-1) … posted majority of completed doubles matches on Court 3 (14-5); also finished on Courts 1 (2-1) and 2 (3-1) … won nine consecutive singles decisions from Feb. 22-April 18, including 6-2, 6-4 result over No. 94 Max Sheldon of Michigan State (April 13) … earned Big Ten Player of the Week award (April 2) after posting 2-0 singles – including clinching win versus No. 88 Vlad Breazu of Oregon – and 3-0 doubles records in conference play … posted team-high-tying four match-clinching points, including 6-1, 6-4 result over Jeremy Zhang of Illinois (March 21) … with Ballotta, clinched team-high six doubles points, including 6-4 result over Alexander Bernard/Bryce Nakashima of Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament championship match (April 27); also clinched one each alongside partner Johnson and Aadarsh Tripathi … with Ballotta, beat No. 81 Pierre-Yves Bailly/Sebastian Eriksson of Texas 7-5 in NCAA Championships quarterfinal round (May 16) … logged 10-4 record against nationally-ranked singles opponents, including 6-3, 7-6(2) win versus No. 26 Sebastian Gorzny of Texas in NCAA Championships quarterfinal round (May 16) … knocked off No. 32 Theo Dean of California 6-4, 6-3 (Feb. 1) … with Johnson, logged 2-1 record against nationally-ranked doubles opponents, including 6-4 win versus No. 84 Alex Chang/Mikey Wright of California (Feb. 1) … named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2024, Winter 2025.
2023-24
8-8 singles record (3-3 in dual matches) … 17-9 doubles mark (12-6 in dual matches) … posted majority of singles decisions on Court 6 (2-1); also finished on Courts 4 (1-0) and 5 (0-2) … majority of completed doubles matches came on Court 2 (9-4); also finished on Court 1 (3-2) … with partner Spencer Johnson, defeated two nationally-ranked doubles opponents, including 6-4 decision over No. 46 Matthew Burton/Quinn Vandecasteele of Oregon in Pac-12 Championships quarterfinal round (April 25) … with Johnson, clinched five doubles points, including 7-6(2) winner-take-all result over No. 75 Samir Banerjee/Nishesh Basavareddy of Stanford (April 12) … posted two match-clinching points, including 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 winner-take-all result over Carson Baker of Ole Miss in ITA Kickoff Weekend consolation round (Jan. 28) … with Johnson, defeated Kai Brady/Lucca Liu of UC Santa Barbara 8-2 to claim doubles title at Dennis Rizza Classic (Nov. 5) … beat Gianluca Brunkow of UC Santa Barbara 6-3, 6-4 to reach singles semifinal round at Dennis Rizza Classic (Nov. 4) … earned first career singles victory with 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 result over Pablo Perez Ramos of NJIT to reach prequalifying second round at ITA All-American Championships (Sept. 30) … named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
2022-23
Redshirted ... did not see action during tournament or dual-match portions of schedule … named ITA Scholar-Athlete ... named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Winter 2023 and Spring 2023.
PRIOR TO UCLA
Graduated from Visions In Education … Blue Chip recruit according to TennisRecruiting.net; reached high of No. 9 in 2021 … with partner Alex Fuchs, won Boys’ 18 doubles championship at 2022 National Indoor Championships in Overland Park, Kan.; also reached Boys’ 18 singles final round … with partner Ethan Schiffman, collected Boys' doubles title at 2022 Southern California Open Sectional Championships in San Diego … advanced to Boys' 18 singles semifinal round at 2022 National Winter Championships in Orlando, Fla. … reached singles quarterfinal round and doubles semifinal round (with partner Dylan Tsoi) at 2021 Boys' 16 National Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich. … with partner Owen Megargee, reached doubles semifinal round at 2021 USTA Boys' 16 National Clay Court Championships in Delray Beach, Fla. … captured Boys' 18 singles and doubles (with Schiffman) championships at Level 2: Rome Ga. event in 2021 … with partner Masato Perera, picked up Boys' 18 doubles championship at Level 2: San Diego, CA event; also won Boys' 18 singles consolation title … with Schiffman, won Boys' 16 doubles championship at 2021 Easter Bowl in San Diego … with Perera, took Boys' 18 doubles title at Level 3: Lakewood, CA event in 2021; also advanced to singles semifinal round … seized singles title at 2021 Boys' 16 Spring Individual Championships in Mobile, Ala. … earned Boys' 16 singles title at Level 2: Newport Beach, CA event in 2021.
PERSONAL
Son of Jeff and Mai … has one older brother, Yuuto, and one younger sister, Lyla … parents attended UCLA … born in Bellingham, Wash. … decided to attend UCLA because it was his dream school and it “gives the best possible balance between high-level tennis and great academics” … describes his greatest athletic thrill to date as winning Boys’ 16 doubles championship (with partner Ethan Schiffman) at 2021 Easter Bowl after trailing in multiple matches … admires Rafael Nadal for his fighting spirit … hobbies and interests include outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, skiing and fishing … speaks Japanese … aspires to be top-ranked professional tennis player … economics major.
CAREER SINGLES | CAREER DOUBLES | |||||
YEAR | DUAL | TOUR | OVR | DUAL | TOUR | OVR |
2023-24 | 3-3 | 5-5 | 8-8 | 12-6 | 5-3 | 17-9 |
2024-25 | 14-4 | 10-5 | 24-9 | 19-7 | 4-3 | 23-10 |
TOTALS | 17-7 | 15-10 | 32-17 | 31-13 | 9-6 | 40-19 |
NCAA Men's Tennis vs. USC - Billy Martin, Spencer Johnson (May 9, 2025)
Saturday, May 10
NCAA MTN Super Regionals - Billy Martin, Spencer Johnson (May 9, 2025)
Friday, May 09
M. Tennis Interview - Coach Martin on T2's "Second Serve" (April 28, 2025)
Monday, April 28
Portraits of Culture - Bryce Pereira
Friday, May 28