Alabama
Michigan
No. 22 Alabama Men’s Tennis Opens Dual Match Schedule with Doubleheaders on Saturday and Monday
1/18/2019 4:48:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Crimson Tide hosts a doubleheader against No. 23 Michigan and Chattanooga on Saturday, along with Charlotte and North Alabama on Monday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's tennis team commences its 2019 dual match schedule on Saturday when it plays host to No. 23 Michigan at 12 p.m. CT and Chattanooga at 6 p.m. CT, and then on Monday against Charlotte at 1 p.m. CT and North Alabama at 6 p.m. CT, inside the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor Tennis Facility.
PROMOTIONS
Saturday vs. Michigan at 12 p.m. CT
- Culverhouse Business Day
Monday vs. Charlotte at 1 p.m. CT
- College of Education Day
ABOUT ALABAMA
The Crimson Tide enters the season ranked No. 22 in Oracle ITA Collegiate Tennis Men's Division I National Team Rankings, marking the program's first top-25 appearance in the opening national rankings since 2010.
The talented squad returns the entire 2018 roster that led the team to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007 and only the fourth time in program history.
Alabama has won five straight dual matches on opening day, including a 4-0 and 5-0 triumph in the doubleheader over Jackson State last year. With the victories, the Tide is 12-1 in season openers under head coach George Husack and will look to continue its momentum from the fall season.
The Tide boasts a pair nationally-ranked singles players with sophomore Patrick Kaukovalta coming in at No. 41, while senior all-american Mazen Osama is ranked No. 24.
Also in the mix for UA are juniors Edson Ortiz, Alexey Nesterov, and Zhe Zhou who combined for a 47-22 record in dual match singles play last season. Nesterov led the team with 20 wins and finished the 2018 spring season winning his last five matches.
After spending the fall playing in his home country of France, junior Thibault Cancel returns to the Tide. Cancel primarily played the No. 2 and No. 3 spot in singles play, while also partnering up with Nesterov for doubles competition.
Sophomore Riccardo Roberto looks to be a spark for Alabama after compiling a 6-3 mark during the fall season. Sophomore Jeremy Gschwendtner joined the Tide last spring from London, England, but sat out of dual match season and fall season, but will now see his first action in 2019.
COACHES CORNER
"Well it's certainly a much-anticipated start to the season," said head coach George Husack. "We worked long and hard in the fall. We went all over the place in the fall - we competed in 14 events - and now we can all be together and compete in matches."
"For us to be an excellent program, we must excel and improve, and if that means we equal last year's feats, we do, and if we surpass them, that's a great thing."
Husack is in his 7th season at the helm of the Alabama men's tennis program. Every year under Husack, Alabama has earned a berth in the NCAA Doubles Championships, in 2018 Osama and partner Ortiz made it as one-of 32 pairings.
SCOUTING REPORT
Alabama trails, 7-3, in the all-time series against Michigan, the most recent meeting ended in the Tide falling 4-0 at Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 21, 2017. The Wolverines finished the 2018 campaign with 22 wins and also advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Alabama sports a 3-0 advantage over Chattanooga in the all-time series, including a 6-1 triumph in the last meeting between the two squads on Jan. 20, 2018, in Tuscaloosa. The Mocs dropped its season opener at Middle Tennessee earlier this week, falling 7-0.
Monday's encounter will mark the first-ever dual match against Charlotte. The 49ers began the season earlier this week with 6-1 wins over Presbyterian and Winthrop.
COMING UP
Following Monday's action, Alabama will return to action on Friday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. CT with another home match when it takes on Northwestern inside the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor Tennis Facility.
Get all the latest information on the team by following AlabamaMTN on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
