GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman head men's tennis coach J.J. Whitlinger has announced the addition of Matt Kandel to the Paladin roster for the upcoming 2025 season.

Kandel, a native of Townsend, Mass., previously spent three seasons playing for head coach Dan Greenberg at NCAA Division III Williams College. He is a two-time ITA All-American performer in both singles and doubles while competing in the NCAA Division III Tournament three times. Kandel was named first team All-NESCAC for doubles three times and garnered first team singles accolades in 2023 and 2024.

"We are really excited about Matt," said Whitlinger. "He has a proven pedigree and is one of the most accomplished players at the Division III level the last few years. I'm looking forward to seeing him excel at Furman."

The 2022 New England Small College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, Kandel went 14-5 last season playing at No. 1 singles and combined to win a team best 16 doubles matches competing at the top spot. He advanced to the singles quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament. In 2023, Kandel won 20 singles matches playing at No. 1 and No. 2, and tallied 17 doubles victories at No. 1. He played in the singles finals of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling in three sets. Kandel appeared in the doubles quarterfinals at the 2022 NCAA Division III Tournament.

This past August, Kandel won Shanghai Collegiate Tennis Tournament.

Academically, he was voted to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team twice and earned third team Academic All-America recognition in 2024.

Kandel graduated from the Groton School where he played tennis and football. He was a team captain for both sports and captured the New England Prep School Invitational Tennis Tournament (NEPSIT) championship.

Kandel's addition gives Furman, who opens its season on Sunday, January 12, at 11 a.m. against South Carolina, a total of five newcomers. He joins freshmen Nicolas Dispas, Sam Fancutt, Theophile Joly, and Nico Snyder.