Mount St. Mary's Invitational Draw
Baltimore, MD – The Coppin State Men's Tennis team begins their 2017-18 season this weekend at the Mount St. Mary's Invitational. Coach
Will Riley, entering his third year, is excited for the start of the season. "I want the guys to get stronger. I'm looking to see where the new guys fit in and who the best to put out there is."
Riley returns five players from last year's squad. Last season, the Eagles finished 5
th in the MEAC and with an overall record of 1-14, 0-5 in the conference.
Senior
Gavin Lewis, returns to the Eagles with high hopes for a substantial final season. Lewis finished the 2016-2017 season with a 5-10 record in 15 single match competitions. Also returning to the court for the Eagles is junior, Andreas Diaz. Diaz finished with a 4-11 record, 1-4 in the conference. Riley hopes his returning players come back with more consistency and leadership. "My returners should be model student-athletes and role models to the newcomers on our team."
The program added two players to the roster which will bring depth to the team. Coming into the program is sophomore Igor Zapparoli De Souza from Sao Paulo, Brazil and junior
Jorge Rodriguez Rey from Bogota, D.C. Souza transfers in from McPherson College where he played one year and finished with a .500 record. Rodriguez transfers in from Tennessee State where he led his team with a 34-42 overall record. Riley hope these men will come in and give the returners a challenge.
In addition to the new faces, the Coppin State tennis courts were just recently renovated in September bringing a fresh look to the courts. During construction, the team held practices at Twin Lakes Racquet Club and at Druid Hill Park. The Eagles players and staff are excited about the completed renovations. "It's a good thing and definitely needed", said Coach Riley. "When prospects come, they will see nice newly renovated courts. It will be a great recruiting tool for us and we will be able to use the whole perimeter of the area, not just half."
The Eagles will kick off their season traveling to Emmitsburg, MD to compete in the Mount St. Mary's Invitational on Friday, October 6
th to Sunday, October 8
th. Following that and wrapping up the fall season they will travel to West Long Branch, NJ to visit Monmouth University on Saturday, October 21
st.
