Stirling student tennis stars crowned national champions

The University of Stirling men’s tennis team have been crowned champions of the British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) National League for 2024/25.

The team – made up of captain Liam Hignett, Robert Cowley, Cameron Fryer, Kyle McKay and Patrick Young – finished in top spot after completing the league season undefeated.

It means that the Stirling team currently holds all four of the BUCS men’s national titles – the National League, National Championship, singles and doubles.

It comes just weeks after Hignett won a silver medal with Great Britain at the Master’U BNP Paribas – regarded the top international event in university tennis – while fellow tennis scholar Anna McBride won the women’s singles at the Australian Open’s Intellectual Disability Championships for the third consecutive year.

Scott MacAulay, Lead Tennis Coach at the University of Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, said: “I am proud of all that the men’s team have achieved over the course of the past year – for them to hold all four national titles at the same time is an impressive accomplishment.

“The players have put in incredible performances across the season so far and the fact that they have gone undefeated is testament to their training, focus and determination. We are excited to see what the rest of the season holds as we aim to finish the year on a high.”

The men sealed the National League title with a convincing win over second-placed Nottingham, followed up with a 4-2 victory over Durham – ending the season with eight wins and two draws. Stirling last won the title in 2021/22 and have finished runner-up in the past two years.

The trophy adds to the doubles title won by Hignett and Cowley earlier this season, and to Hignett’s singles title and the BUCS Championship Cup wins last season. Stirling is in the quarter-finals of this season's Championship Cup, to be played February 26, while the singles finals run March 21-23.

David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “Congratulations to the men’s tennis team on their undefeated, title-winning season in the BUCS National League, the pinnacle of UK university tennis. To be champions in such a competitive league is an excellent achievement, but to do it without losing a match is even more remarkable.

“Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and through our high-performance sports programmes, we continue to nurture and support the next generation of athletes to success.”

Stirling’s International Sports Scholarship Programme – one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK – offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility, access to world-class facilities and coaching, equipment and kit. It has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981 – with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. Core sports include tennis, swimming, golf, football, triathlon, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships include athletics, fencing, BMX racing, and orienteering. Visit our dedicated webpage for more information on our International Sports Scholarship Programme.