RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Riverside men's tennis team welcomes six new players to campus for the 2025-26 season.
Michael Chang | Riverside, Calif. | Riverside City College
Chang stays in the IE moving from RCC to UCR for his junior season. In 2024 he received Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American honors. He was ranked as high as second in the 3C2A SoCal Singles Rankings (2025). Chang attended Arlington High School in Riverside where team advanced to the CIFSS Division Four quarterfinals in 2022.
"I joined UCR because of the community I saw when I went there to visit. I also met with some of the tennis guys and found their attitudes positive."
Andrew Lavine | Bellaire, Texas | ICL Academy
Lavine comes to UCR from the Lone Star State and graduated from ICL Academy with National Honor Society recognition. This past summer, Lavine won his first ITF World Tour professional match and competed in three professional events in Spain (Gijon 25k) , Germany (Allershausen 15k), and Serbia (Kuršumlijska Banja 15k).
"I chose UC Riverside because it gives me the opportunity to compete at the Division I level while continuing to grow as both a tennis player and a person."
Noris Nedelcovici | Geneva, Switzerland | Mouratoglou Tennis Academy
Nedelcovici comes to UCR from the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy where he found success apart of the 14U National Vice Champion team U14. He also was part of a team that took third place in U16. Nedelcovici achieved ITF junior ranking of 2700 and top 50 national rank U18.
"I chose UCR because of the strong business program and of course, the tennis team."
Owen Pearson | Murrieta, Calif. | Murrieta Valley HS
Pearson heads to UCR after a CIF Team Runner Up finish in 2024 at Murrieta Valley HS. He was a three-time league MVP on the tennis court. Pearson also played quarterback for Murrieta Valley for three seasons.
"I chose UCR because it offers good academics and tennis."
Jovan Pedroza | Rossmoor, Calif. | Los Alamitos HS
Pedroza comes to UCR from Los Alamitos and will stay in Southern California. A three time team MVP at Los Al, Pedroza competed in the 2022 CIF Southern Section Finals.
"[I chose UCR] to be able to compete at the division 1 level and receive a good education while living in California.
Ivaylo Simeonov | Gabrovo, Bulgaria | Ivan Gyuzelev HS
Simeonov comes to UCR from Bulgaria and is one of four freshmen to join the Highlanders. In his home country he was the Bulgarian National (Individual) Champion U16.
"I Chose UCR because of the tennis team and the good business program the university has to offer"
