No. 62 ETSU is set to face a tough field this weekend at the Duke Invitatio...
East Tennessee State University Team Page
DURHAM, N.C. (Jan. 14, 2010) – Two days after being named the Preseason Atlantic Sun Conference favorite, the ETSU men’s tennis team opens its quest for a successful 2010 season Saturday at the Duke Invitational inside the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center in Durham, N.C.
The 62nd-ranked Buccaneers will be tested early at the event as fellow ranked programs No. 70 Elon, No. 29 North Carolina and host No. 19 Duke are all set to participate. ETSU will face each of the three teams at the affair in a dual match format Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Individually, the Bucs are led by a trio of nationally ranked singles players in 51st-ranked freshman Jesus Bandres (Caracas, Venezuela), and juniors No. 82 Grega Teraz (Mojstrana, Slovenia), and No. 89 Charles Bottoni (Bois Guillaume, France).
In addition to the singles accolades the Bucs boast a pair of nationally recognized doubles teams. Leading the way is the duo of senior Daniel Isaza (Medellin, Columbia), and sophomore Ofir Weintraub (Rishon Le Zion, Israel), who enter the spring ranked No. 39, while Bandres and sophomore Sander Gille (Kuringen, Belgium), begin the new season at No. 52.
Not to be outdone Duke, North Carolina and Elon all enter the event with a number of highly regarded players of their own.
The Blue Devils swing into their season with 17th-ranked Henrique Cunha, No. 62 Dylan Arnould and No. 77 Torsten Wietoska, in addition to the eighth ranked doubles team in the county in Cunha and Reid Carleton.
Like their Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Carolina brings in three nationally recognized players of their own in No. 36 Clay Donato, No. 92 Ryan Noble and No. 99 Brennan Boyajian.
Rounding out the field is Elon, who after losing two 2009 NCAA Singles and Doubles participants, return a pair of All-Southern Conference players in Alberto Rojas and Phillip Nemec.
Last season ETSU finished second at the Duke Invitational with 91 team points, 69 points behind winner Duke who had 160. North Carolina and Elon rounded out the scores with 71 and 57 points respectively.
For updates and more information on the men’s tennis team please visit, www.ETSUBucs.com.
