JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman men's tennis team will look to break a three-match losing streak against the University of the Cumberlands on Thursday afternoon.
Carson-Newman (4-8, 3-5) will look to avenge a 5-4 loss to the University of Cumberlands (4-10) from last season. Five Eagles played in last year's match against the Patriots, the returners went 3-2. Stefano Daza (Venezuela), Kevin Mendes (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Jesus Bacete-Sanz (Spain) all had victories, while Joao Pedro Oliveira (Brazil) and Marc Bantel (Germany) lost their matches.
The Eagles are led by Oliveira at the No. 1 singles position. The senior has won his past two matches and is now 8-6 on the season. The native of Brazil is also 5-3 in conference play this year.
Another Eagle that has stood out as of late is Mendes at the No.6 singles position. The junior has won two consecutive matches and is 8-2 overall on the year. Daza shook off a four match losing streak with a three set victory against Lincoln Memorial at the No. 4 singles position. The senior from Venezuela is 5-9 on the year and 2-6 within conference play.
A pair of Eagles have struggled of late within singles play. Rodolfo Schwarz has not had the return to college tennis that he was looking for having lost two consecutive matches. The junior is just 2-8 on the season. Bantel has not been able to grab any momentum during the 2017 season having lost four straight matches. The German native is just 3-10 on the season.
Gabriel Dabdab (Brazil) has had a strong freshman campaign at the No. 5 singles position. The freshman has gone 7-5 overall on the year and is 3-3 within conference play.
Dabdab and Oliveira make up the No. 2 doubles team for the Eagles. The duo are 8-5 overall on the year and have a 6-1 mark in conference play. The No. 1 doubles team of Daza and Schwarz are just 2-8 on the season and will look to turn things around against the Patriots.
The Eagles have not been able to solidify a No. 3 doubles team, trying out multiple pairings throughout the season. The teams have combined for a 3-9 record on the season at the No. 3 doubles position.
The Eagles and the Patriots will play on Thursday, March 30 at 3 p.m.
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