Colonels return to the court
Jonathan Stark
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Sports
The men's tennis team will get back on the court this fall after an early exit from the 2008 OVC tournament. The Colonels lost in the first round to UT Martin, who they had beaten just weeks before.
The fall season last year was highlighted by juniors Vadzim Ivanis and Mel Segota, who took home first in doubles play at the Flight "C" doubles title in Louisville, Ky.
In the spring, the Colonels went 16-12 and 6-3 in conference play.
The squad lost two seniors to graduation. Lars Gratzki split time with Das at the one- and two-spots. Gratzki had a disappointing 11-22 season and was the only Colonel to finish below the .500 mark in singles.
Fred Goncalves also graduated. He had a decent senior year, going 19-16 in singles. Goncalves is back this season as an assistant coach.
Oertel said he was excited about the core group of guys he has for the upcoming year.
Part of that core will be sophomore Alex Das Izquierdo. In the spring, Izquierdo was statistically Eastern's best player, at 21-6 overall. He also went on two streaks of seven wins. At the end of the season he was honored as the OVC Men's Freshman of the Year.
Junior Johannes John will also be back for another year. Last season John went 20-15. The German native played out of the four-spot most of the time last season and should move up to the three- or even two-spot this fall.
Francisco Fontoura, who saw limited playing time last year as a freshman, will play a larger role this season. Fortoura was the only player to beat an opponent who played for a ranked school. He defeated Kyle Virgin of 48th-ranked Kentucky 8-2.
Ivanis will be the final piece of the puzzle for the Colonels. Ivanis finished the spring at 14-14 in singles.
Eastern struggled in doubles last season, going 41-45 overall and 12-15 in the OVC.
The couple that faired the best was Ivanis and Segota, who were 16-14 overall.
Ivanis and Segota will most likely be paired up again on the court. With Gratzki and Goncalves leaving, more doubles combinations are opened up-hopefully some winning combinations.
"The four core guys that I have back from last year is a solid base," Oertel said. "I'm very comfortable with those four guys."
The men won't take the court until their first tournament, which is the Virginia Fall Invite in Charlottesville, Va. on Sept. 12.
The fall season last year was highlighted by juniors Vadzim Ivanis and Mel Segota, who took home first in doubles play at the Flight "C" doubles title in Louisville, Ky.
In the spring, the Colonels went 16-12 and 6-3 in conference play.
The squad lost two seniors to graduation. Lars Gratzki split time with Das at the one- and two-spots. Gratzki had a disappointing 11-22 season and was the only Colonel to finish below the .500 mark in singles.
Fred Goncalves also graduated. He had a decent senior year, going 19-16 in singles. Goncalves is back this season as an assistant coach.
Oertel said he was excited about the core group of guys he has for the upcoming year.
Part of that core will be sophomore Alex Das Izquierdo. In the spring, Izquierdo was statistically Eastern's best player, at 21-6 overall. He also went on two streaks of seven wins. At the end of the season he was honored as the OVC Men's Freshman of the Year.
Junior Johannes John will also be back for another year. Last season John went 20-15. The German native played out of the four-spot most of the time last season and should move up to the three- or even two-spot this fall.
Francisco Fontoura, who saw limited playing time last year as a freshman, will play a larger role this season. Fortoura was the only player to beat an opponent who played for a ranked school. He defeated Kyle Virgin of 48th-ranked Kentucky 8-2.
Ivanis will be the final piece of the puzzle for the Colonels. Ivanis finished the spring at 14-14 in singles.
Eastern struggled in doubles last season, going 41-45 overall and 12-15 in the OVC.
The couple that faired the best was Ivanis and Segota, who were 16-14 overall.
Ivanis and Segota will most likely be paired up again on the court. With Gratzki and Goncalves leaving, more doubles combinations are opened up-hopefully some winning combinations.
"The four core guys that I have back from last year is a solid base," Oertel said. "I'm very comfortable with those four guys."
The men won't take the court until their first tournament, which is the Virginia Fall Invite in Charlottesville, Va. on Sept. 12.
