JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Carson-Newman (2-2) heads back on the road to open up its SAC slate on Wednesday to take on Catawba (1-1, 1-0 SAC) before returning home to face off with Lenoir-Rhyne (4-1, 2-0 SAC).
Out to a 2-2 start on the year, the Eagles have had multiple standout performers, including Marc Janse, who is 4-0 in singles play in the spring and on a seven-match win streak dating back to the fall.
"I've been trying to win in any way possible," Janse said. "I've had a couple of close matches, and I've really got to shoutout my teammates because when I was struggling, they'd pull me through with the energy they give off the court… I've been trying to find a way, and it's been working so far, so I'm looking to keep it going."
In doubles, Janse has found success with New Mexico State transfer Yehor Opanasenko, tallying a 3-0 record in No. 3 doubles. Having to acclimate quickly, Janse has had no problems connecting with Opanasenko on and off the court.
"We really click well off the court," Janse said. "We have the same interests, so we bonded over that… We started playing doubles together in practice, and we had this weird vibe, but it really worked… We have a lot of fun on the court."
With early success in the fall season, Janse and the Eagles look forward to two SAC opponents to open the conference slate.
@Catawba (2/28)
Sitting at 1-1 on the season, the Indians have had two matches postponed due to inclement weather but secured an impressive win in their SAC opener, taking down UVA-Wise 5-1.
In its last match against Wise, Catawba secured four of the six singles on the afternoon, dropping only the No. 2 and 3 singles and earning the doubles point, sweeping all three matches.
Graduate student Edoardo Cecere returns after earning First-Team All-SAC honors in singles and doubles in two of his four seasons at Catawba. The Indians' No. 1 singles player has tallied a 37-14 singles record in his career and a 33-17 record in doubles in his time with Catawba.
Cecere leads a talented Indians squad, posing a challenge to the Eagles in their first SAC match of the year.
vs. Lenoir-Rhyne (2/29)
The Bears are off to a hot start to open the spring season, dropping only one match to Mount Olive and winners of back-to-back SAC matches at Mars Hill and Anderson.
In its two SAC wins, Lenoir-Rhyne has looked to Zachary Cox in No. 1 singles, and he has earned two hard-fought victories to help earn an important point for the Bears. LR has won ten of the 14 singles matches it has played as a team in its first two conference matches.
Doubles have also been a strength for LR, winning four of the six matches to secure the doubles point in both matches.
With two tough contests on the horizon, the Eagles look to kick off conference play on the right foot on the road against Catawba on Wednesday before returning home to face off with Lenoir-Rhyne on Thursday.
