Bucs break back into ITA Rankings at No. 63

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 2, 2015) - In the midst of a four-match win streak, No. 63 ETSU will look to continue its winning ways this weekend as the Bucs host non-conference opponents Appalachian State and Georgia State at the Buddy Hartsell Courts at the Dave Mullins Tennis Complex in Johnson City.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday, April 3 vs. Appalachian State - 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 4 vs. Georgia State - 1:00 p.m.

GETTING UP TO SPEED

The 63rd-ranked Buccaneers (8-7) have won seven of their last eight matches, including a 4-1 victory over No. 47 UNC Wilmington last weekend.

Since enduring a challenging non-conference slate that featured five ranked opponents within ETSU's first seven matches, the Bucs have posted a 7-1 record, breaking back into the ITA NCAA Division I Men's Rankings at No. 63. The Bucs were nationally ranked for the first two weeks of the spring season.

ETSU's only loss since Feb. 14 came against No. 5 Georgia on the road.

During the Bucs' recent surge, Ismael Merino (Lima, Peru) and Robert Herrera (Barcelona, Spain) have gone unbeaten in doubles play. The duo is currently in the midst of a team-best, eight-match win streak.

Meanwhile, the doubles team of Conner Huertas (Lima, Peru) and Sebastian Yllera (Cinco Saltos, Argentina) has won three consecutive matches.

In singles play, three ETSU players have won at least three straight matches: David Biosca (Sant Fruitos de Bage, Spain) and co-captains Merino and Rogerio Ribeiro (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Biosca, Merino, Ribeiro, and Yllera are each unbeaten in Southern Conference play thus far.

OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE

The Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-9) have won four of their last five matches, with the lone setback coming on the road to No. 57 Troy. The Mountaineers are 4-8 in road or neutral-site matches.

The Georgia State Panthers (7-11) will enter Saturday's contest on a two-match losing skid after falling to No. 29 Drake, 4-1, and Wisconsin-Green Bay, 4-2, in Des Moines, Iowa last weekend. Georgia State is 4-7 away from home this season.

VENUE INFORMATION

Both of this weekend's matches will be played at the Buddy Hartsell Courts at the Dave Mullins Tennis Complex on the campus of ETSU. In the event of inclement weather, matches could be moved indoors to the Bristol Racquet & Fitness Club in Bristol, Tenn. Please follow the Bucs on the platforms listed below for updates regarding changes to playing sites, etc.

Directions to Dave Mullins Tennis Complex (ETSU): http://bit.ly/1OBxZIp

Directions to Bristol Racquet & Fitness Club: http://bit.ly/1byXyul

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