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Men's Tennis

MEN’S TENNIS TO BATTLE TWO NATIONALLY-RANKED IVY LEAGUE PROGRAMS

 

RADFORD, Va. – Accustomed to scheduling a challenging slate of matches, head coach Mike Anderson and his Radford men's tennis team will be put to the test when the Highlanders open their dual schedule Friday and Saturday in Ivy League territory against Cornell and Dartmouth, which are both ranked entering this weekend.
 
"We always like to play the Ivy League programs…maybe not as early as we are this year, but it was just how the schedule worked out," Anderson said. "They give us a good barometer on what we can expect, and also if we are fortunate enough to get a win or two, it helps pull us up into the national rankings."
 
Radford's case for jumping into the national rankings would be significantly strengthened if the Highlanders could knock off 62nd-ranked Cornell at the Reis Tennis Center in Ithaca, N.Y. Friday at 2 p.m. The Big Red return seven players from last year's 14-8 squad, in addition to an immediate-impact freshman class.
 
Cornell split its first two matches, dropping a 4-3 decision to 69th-ranked Buffalo before bouncing back against George Washington, 4-1. The Big Red boasts the 40th-ranked doubles tandem in the nation in Sam Fleck and Chris Vrabel.
 
Following their clash with Cornell, the Highlanders make their way to Hanover, N.H. for Saturday's 5 p.m. dual at the Boss Tennis Center against 64th-ranked Dartmouth. The Big Green (3-1) will have faced three nationally-ranked foes in a row prior to their encounter with RU.
 
During its trip to Stillwater, Okla., Dartmouth defeated No. 58 Arkansas before suffering its only setback of the season, a 4-0 loss to No. 51 Oklahoma State. 68th-ranked East Tennessee State visits the Big Green Friday at 6 p.m. Like Cornell, Dartmouth features a top-40 doubles pair as Cameron Ghorbani and Brendan Tannebaum check in at No. 36 in the nation this week.
 
Former Big South Player and Freshman of the Year Nicholas Sayer will guide the Highlanders into the northeast. He went 6-4 during the fall portion of the schedule, which included wins at the Duke Fab Four, the UVa Fall Classic and the ITA Atlantic Regional. The senior, who has 77 career wins, needs only one more to enter third place for all-time career victories in program history.
 
"Nick is playing with a fire inside him, knowing he has the potential to be the best in our conference," Anderson indicated. "He wasn't quite himself last season, but he is back this year and ready to go."
 
Along with Sayer, senior captain Joe Mills and junior Patrick O'Keefe will look to provide leadership for the Highlanders, who feature five freshmen on their roster and were picked sixth in the Big South preseason poll.
 
"Joe is playing incredible right now and Patrick, who played through injuries his first two seasons, is healthy and playing the best he ever has, so we have a lot to look forward to," Anderson stated.
 
The Highlanders will have even more to look forward to if they can get a win or two this weekend.


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