ATHENS, Ga. (Sept. 7, 2012) – The ETSU men’s tennis team opened up the fall season on Friday, competing in the 45th annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, with sophomore Rogerio Ribeiro (Sao Paulo, Brazil) advancing into third round of the Division II singles draw.

Ribeiro was awarded a bye in the first round, and began play in the second round against Georgia College’s Johan Wadstein. Last year’s unanimous selection to the A-Sun All-Freshman Team easily handled Wadstein, 6-1, 6-1, setting up a third-round matchup on Saturday against Chattanooga’s Chris Smith. First serve for that matchup is scheduled for 8 a.m.

The other six Buccaneers competing in singles action did not fare as well. ETSU finished the day with a combined 2-6 record, with junior Jorge Varon (Valencia, Venezuela) picking up the only other victory before falling in the second round. Those Buccaneers will play in the consolation draw beginning Saturday.

Doubles play did not favor the Bucs either, with just one ETSU duo surviving through the main draw. Senior Juan Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay) and Varon will play the victor between Clemson and the Citadel on Saturday, having advanced with no contest past their scheduled first-round match against Tennessee Tech.