JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After four-straight matches at the indoor confines of the Knoxville Racquet Club, Carson-Newman men's tennis travels to Clarksville, Tenn. for a Friday afternoon tilt versus Division I foe Austin Peay.
It is the lone DI opponent for the Eagles on the spring dual-match schedule and presents an opportunity for head coach Jim Frederick and his team to see where they stack up.
"With the win that we had over Lee, they're confident," Frederick said. "I think they realize that if they play they can win the match. We have to play well…they're a Division I team, even if they're struggling a little bit they're still a Division I team.
C-N enters Friday at 4-0 for the first time in the modern era. The four-match winning spell is the longest for the Eagles since 2012. Entering Friday, the Governors hold an 0-6 record on the campaign.
Friday also hopes to see freshman Hugo Castets (Gradignan, France) return to his spot at No. 1 singles after sitting out to end last weekend with an injury. Senior captain Gabriel Dabdab (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will also look to reenter the starting six.
Singles play has seen the Eagles shine early this year, with the team going a combined 19-5 across all matches thus far. Dutch freshmen Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) and Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) have yet to drop a decision in their first dual match seasons. Sophomore Rintaro Oka (Narita, Japan) has also shined at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, splitting his four matches at two wins apiece across both slots.
Earning the opening doubles point will also be crucial for C-N. So far, the Eagles have a combined record of 7-5 in doubles play, but the return of Castets and Dabdab to form the No. 1 doubles play will hope to pay dividends for the team.
"We always start practice working on doubles…everything starts with doubles," Frederick said. "Every match starts with doubles. So that's why we start every practice with doubles…We are playing very, very good singles. If we win the doubles point Friday, that will be a huge boost going into singles."
In the series history Austin Peay leads 1-0, respectively. The Governors earned the head-to-head series opening victory last year in 2019 with a 6-1 win.
Opening serve from the Governors Tennis Center in Clarksville is set for 2:30 p.m.
C-N's weekend doesn't stop Friday, as the team will also travel to face Sewanee Sunday at 2 p.m. in an exhibition contest.
Be sure to check CNEagles.com for continued coverage of play this weekend.
