Friday, February 27, 2009
The Bucs will take on Minnesota Saturday, before facing Western Michigan Sunday
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 27, 2009) - Needing to capture some momentum before it heads into conference play next week the No. 45-ranked ETSU men's tennis team will take its first step to regaining its form as they travel to face No. 48 Minnesota, with a 10:00 a.m., contest Saturday morning at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Bucs (1-4) come into the contest after falling to in-state rival Middle Tennessee 4-1, last Thursday in Bristol. ETSU has faced a brutal schedule this spring as the Gophers mark the eighth ITA ranked team the Bucs have faced, including road matches at No. 1 Virginia, No. 2 Georgia and eighth-ranked Tennessee. However, ETSU's looks to stay unbeaten against teams from the Big Ten Conference as the Bucs dropped No. 39 Wisconsin 4-3 early this season.
Individually, senior Enrique Olivares (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) looks to build off his best performance of the spring season. The 15th-ranked captain picked up ETSU's lone singles win against the Blue Raiders, dropping Victor Melo in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Since starting the season ranked as high as No. 9 the preseason Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year has faced six nationally ranked players.
Minnesota (8-1) comes into the match winning its last six contests. The red-hot Gophers look to wrap up a perfect seven-match homestand, after Minnesota picked up wins against four nationally ranked opponents. The Gophers have combined to post a 45-9 singles record as a team and is looking for its longest winning streak since the 2003 season. Individually, Sebastain Gallego leads the way for Minnesota after staring the season 16-5.
For more information and results on the ETSU men's tennis team please visit www.ETSUBUCS.com.
