KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The time has come for Carson-Newman men's tennis to kickstart and swing open 2022. The Eagles look to get on the right track when they welcome in the Union (Ky.) Bulldogs on Saturday before playing host to the North Georgia Nighthawks Sunday morning at the Knoxville Racquet Club.
"Our men are amped to get out and play for the first time this season after having a strong fall season," head coach Jim Frederick said. "We know what we can do and the talent we have. I think these matchups, with two high-talented teams, will help us to prepare for later in the season and conference play."
The 2021 season for Carson-Newman men's tennis was full of many emotions, but none more than happiness as the Eagles matched their highest win total in five seasons and made an appearance in the SAC Tournament for the first time in 11 seasons. Carson-Newman finished 2020-21 with an overall record of 7-11, led by the efforts of junior Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands).
Due to his efforts last season, the junior was named a preseason All-SAC selection for singles ahead of the spring season. He finished last year as the first Eagle to be awarded first-team all-conference honors since the 2016-17 season, as he would finish 2021 going 13-4 overall and 11-0 in SAC play for singles. His 13 wins set a new CNMT program record, surpassing the previous record set by Jonathan Allen's during the 2013 season (12 wins).
For Janse, he not only set the new program record for most singles wins in a single season, but he became the first CNMT athlete to go undefeated in SAC singles play since 2010. This is also the last season the Eagles advanced past the regular season and faced Mars Hill in the SAC Quarterfinals.
SCOUTING UNION (KY.)
Saturday's head-to-head season opener against Union (Ky.) will mark over a decade since the Eagles and Bulldogs square off, as the last meeting between the two came back in March 2011. In the last meeting, Carson-Newman's Chris Acker and Derek Holdway secured the only doubles point with their win at no. 3 doubles. Meanwhile, Paul Birdsong claimed the lone singles victory as he took home the no. 6 singles win.
Union College comes into the spring season as the ninth-ranked team in the nation, according to the 2022 NAIA men's tennis coaches' top-25 preseason poll. The Bulldogs finished 2021 with an overall record of 10-8, winning a share of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season championship with a mark of 5-1. Union would go on to the NAIA National quarterfinals, going 2-1 in the 24-team event and earning a no. eight ranking in the final poll.
The Bulldogs have already begun their spring season, currently holding a 2-1 record through three matches. Union College took to the courts in the NAIA Indoor Team National Championships last weekend as they would face off with no. 20 William Woods University, no. 13 Cumberlands, and no. 7 Indiana Wesleyan.
Union (Ky.) would start off with two massive victories over William Woods and Cumberlands. The Bulldogs defeated the Owls 4-1 before going on and defeating the Patriots 4-0. However, their luck ran out against a top-10 team in Indiana Wesleyan. The Bulldogs sit at 2-1 after finishing runner-up while Indiana Wesleyan kept their perfect season alive to move to 23-0 overall and 3-0 in the spring.
SCOUTING NORTH GEORGIA
The last time Carson-Newman faced off with North Georgia came last March as it would be UNG defending home courts and sweeping the Eagles 7-0.
"Boys got beaten by a much better team," head coach Jim Frederick said.
The closest double results came from Gabriel Dabdab and junior Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) as they went to all three games before falling short. In singles, Waterbolk fought for every set but could not muster enough to overcome the opponent.
The Nighthawks come into the 2022 season as one of the top teams in the Peach Belt, garnering a second-place projection in the PBC preseason poll along with a pair of All-PBC selections in Joaquin Benoit and Ryan Gaskin. In 2021, UNG reached the round of 16 and the southeast region final to end a wonderful 12-5 campaign. From last season, the Nighthawks see five of their six starters returning in hopes of making another deep run in 2022.
Joaquin Benoit is currently ranked as the number two singles player by the ITA after finishing runner-up at the 2021 ITA Cup. Last season, Benoit went 12-3 in singles play, including a 10-2 mark at number two singles and 5-2 in Peach Belt play. For his efforts on the court, the sophomore was named the 2021 ITA Southeast Region Rookie of the Year as well as a first-team All-PBC selection in singles and second team in doubles. Meanwhile, Ryan Gaskin is currently ranked no. 26 in singles and no. 20 in doubles by the ITA. He finished 2021 at 11-3 overall, including 5-1 against conference opponents. Gaskin finished the season with a first-team All-PBC laurel in singles and doubles and was named PBC Player of the Week once during the season.
Opening serve from the Knoxville Racquet Club is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Bulldogs and 11 a.m. on Sunday against the Nighthawks.
"We're just really excited to be getting out there and playing team matches. Yeah, practice is good and fun but to actually face another team and getting back into action is exciting," Janse said. "I think this weekend will teach us a lot about our team and we should be able to give both teams a challenge."
Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman men's tennis at cneagles.com and on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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