BALTIMORE, Md. (August 26, 2025) – Morgan State Men's Tennis Head Coach Matthew Townes announced the signing of three new Bears for the 2025-26 roster.
This signing class consists of one transfer and a pair of international freshmen set to fortify Morgan State's roster for the season.
"We are very happy and excited about this recruiting cycle," said Townes. "Replacing our big 3 seniors from last year won't be easy, but we know we have reloaded and are ready to make another push at the title."
"The future is bright and the fire is still burning!"
Isa Abdulraheem – Jr. | Anna, Texas / Anna HS / Prairie View A&M
Isa came to Morgan State after spending two years at Prairie View A&M, where the men's and women's tennis programs were shut down as part of a broader strategic realignment with the Panthers' Athletics department.
In his sophomore year, the Anna, Texas, native finished the season with a 2-9 overall singles record while going 3-7 in dual matches. He primarily played as the No. 2 singles player for Prairie View last season.
In doubles play, Isa mainly paired with Xavier Peter-Gooding, where they played 16 matches as the Panthers' No. 1 doubles tandem. They posted a 3-7 overall record.
He was selected Freshman of the Year during his rookie season.
"We are very excited to welcome Abdul," Townes said. "He brings a fighter's energy and a lot of experience at the collegiate level. He's a great addition to our program, athletically and academically."
Roman Filima – Fr. | Kyiv, Ukraine / IT Step School Kyiv
True freshman Roman Filima joins the team, hailing from Kyiv, Ukraine, bringing an impressive tennis resume. A graduate of IT Step School Kyiv in 2025, Filima boasts a strong 11.43 UTR (Universal Tennis Rating), reflecting his high caliber of play. On the international junior circuit, he showcased his singles prowess by advancing to a J60 final and reaching two additional semifinals.
His doubles game is equally strong, evidenced by two J30 doubles titles. Domestically, Filima distinguished himself as a Ukrainian championship finalist in singles and a triumphant winner in doubles within the U18 category.
Beyond his impressive junior record, Roman's deep connection to the sport runs in his family, as noted by Townes, "Roman has tennis in his blood; his father played on the ATP Challenger Circuit and is the captain of the Ukrainian Fed Cup Team. Townes added, "Roman was one of Ukraine's top junior players, and his background in the sport will truly be an asset to the team."
Ilya Maltsev – Fr. | Moscow, Mocba / Moscow School 1550
Morgan State is excited to welcome Ilya, who will join the team as a true freshman this fall after graduating from Moscow School 1550 in 2024. Ilya brings an impressive junior tennis background to the program, having been a standout on the junior circuit, where he achieved a ranking of 100 ITF.
Townes expressed enthusiasm for the new addition.
"Ilya comes to Morgan with extensive play on the ITF Junior Circuit. We are excited to have his experience join our young team. He's going to make big waves in the conference."
The Morgan State men's team is poised to kick off its 2025 Fall season with an early road test, as they head to Bloomsburg, Pa., for the Bloomsburg Invitational on September 6-7. Opening the campaign away from home, Morgan aims to make a strong statement right out of the gate, promising an exciting Fall season.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
