ANDERSON, S.C. - As both programs are off to hot starts to the season, Anderson University men's and women's tennis jump back into their South Atlantic Conference schedules on Wednesday when they welcome Queens to Max Grubbs Memorial Courts. The first serves in both contests are scheduled for 2 p.m.
AU Men Off To Great Start
The men's team is 6-1 on the young season and enter Wednesday's
contest on a three-match winning streak, capped off by an 8-1 win
over archrival Erskine on Monday. For the season, the Trojans have
not dropped three team points for a match, excluding its setback to
nationally-ranked Columbus State earlier in the season. Within AU's
six victories on the season, the Black and Gold are a perfect 3-0
in conference play.
The trio of Paul Michael Calhoun, Mateo Rivas and Inaki Iriberry continue to lead the Trojans in singles wins for the season, as all three players have six wins apiece. Rivas headlines the group with three wins apiece at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, while Calhoun is 6-1 at No. 4 and Iriberry is 6-1 at No. 5. As a team, Anderson is 32-10 in singles play for the season.
In doubles, three tandems boast three wins on the year, as the duo of Rivas and Harrison Kansol hold a perfect 3-0 record while playing at the No. 2 position. Calhoun and Nicolas Ascarrunz are 3-1 at the No. 2 slot, while Iriberry and Alex Wallace post a 3-1 mark at the No. 3 spot.
AU Women Look to Continue Winning Ways
After its match on Tuesday with national-ranked Lander was
postponed, AU comes into the week with a 6-1 overall record,
including a perfect 3-0 mark in SAC play, as it has won its last
two matches following its lone setback of the season to
nationally-ranked Columbus State on Feb. 12. With the three
conference wins, AU holds the top spot in the conference standings,
as it is tied with Newberry for the most wins in the SAC with
Wolves holding a loss.
In the singles rounds this season, sophomore Rebecca Bruning and junior Alexandra Ebner are tied for the team-lead in wins on the year with six apiece, as Bruning has split time at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, while Ebner has seen action at No. 3 and No. 4 on the campaign. Senior Lindsay Gregory and newcomer Mairead Cleary follow with four singles wins apiece.
In doubles, the tandem of Cleary and Gregory headline the season with six victories, headlined by a perfect 3-0 mark while playing at No. 1. Bruning and freshman Ivey Welborn follow with three wins at the No. 1 slot.
The Royals
Both the men's and women's tennis program landed No. 29 in the
latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's and Women's Tennis
rankings, announced in late February. For the men's team the top-30
rankings marks the first time since 2011 they have cracked the
top-30, while the women's team received their highest ranking in
program history. Both squads come into Wednesday's contest with
identical 6-0 overall records.
The Series
On the men's side, the Trojans look to avenge two setbacks to
Queens a season ago, as the Royals closed AU's season with a 5-4
win in the opening round of the SAC Tournament. On the women's end,
Queens posted a 5-1 win over AU last season in the Black and Gold's
final regular-season match.
