Wayne State University Athletics

Men's Tennis 2/15/2024 11:45:00 AM Matthew Jurek, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Men's Tennis Set for Another Opportunity at the ITA National Indoor Championship

The Warriors will play three matches in three days against some of the nation's best programs.

DETROIT, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's tennis program will be playing in the prestigious Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Men's Team Indoor Championship this weekend from Friday, February 16, through Sunday, February 18, at the UIndy Tennis Center in Indianapolis.

It's the second consecutive season that the Warriors will be participating in the event. Last season, WSU grabbed a 4-3 victory over then No. 4-Flagler in the opening round of the tournament.

The program enters the weekend with a 3-1 record through the early portion of the new year.

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
The ITA National Indoor Championship showcases eight of the top men's Division II tennis teams in a three-day tournament to crown an indoor National Champion. Joining the Warriors in Indianapolis will be Barry, Valdosta State, Saint Leo, Columbus State, Indianapolis, West Florida, and Flagler. Below are the opening round matches with seeding, which will be held on Friday.

#2-Valdosta State vs. #7-Flagler - 8:00 a.m.
#3-Saint Leo vs. #6-West Florida - 11:00 a.m.
#4-Columbus State vs. #5-Indianapolis - 2:30 p.m.
#1-Barry vs. #8-Wayne State - 5:30 p.m.

Winners will play in the semifinals on Saturday, with the finals on Sunday. Consolation matches will also help decide third, fifth, and seventh places in the finishing order. WSU will play in three matches over the weekend regardless of result.

The source for all things related to the ITA National Indoor Championship can be found within the Tournament Central. The link includes the full schedule, live streaming, and live scoring. Wayne State University junior Cedric Drenth (Sulzbach, Germany) and graduate student Dom Spicer (London, England) also previewed the weekend in an interview, which can be found HERE or at the coverage links near the top of the page.

ITA NATIONAL RANKINGS UPDATE
The ITA released its Top 25 National Rankings on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since the preseason on January 17. The coaches poll ranked Wayne State eighth in the nation following four matches this campaign. That is the same spot the team was prior to the season opener.

The Top 10 includes Valdosta State, Barry, Saint Leo, Flagler, West Florida, Columbus State, Indianapolis, Wayne State, Rollins, and Hawaii Pacific. Joining the Green and Gold from the GLIAC is Ferris State in 17th.

LAST TIME OUT
Wayne State is no stranger to competing inside the UIndy Tennis Center, having played its last two matches there last weekend against #15-Washburn and #7-Indianapolis. The Warriors split the weekend, defeating WU 4-1, but falling by that same score to the Greyhounds.

The Green and Gold won all three doubles matches against the Ichabods to earn the opening point on Saturday, while securing three of the four completed singles contests to emerge with the triumph. A notable performance included Daniel Grey (Wiesbaden, Germany) defeating Sebastian Pjontek 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) at the first flight. Pjontek came into the match as the 10th-ranked player in the nation and first in the Central Region.

Grey was also the lone Warrior to earn a victory on Sunday at UIndy. He downed David Simeonov 6-2, 6-4 at the No, 2 spot. The German's performance garnered him GLIAC Player of the Week honors this past Tuesday.

VS. BARRY (2/16)
Barry is 1-1 to begin the new season with a victory over Palm Beach Atlantic (7-0) and a close 4-3 loss to #1-Valdosta State in its most recent contest. The four-time defending National Champions are 3-1 all-time against Wayne State, with all four match-ups coming in the past two seasons. Following a 4-3 victory by the Warriors in the first ever match between the two programs on March 17, 2022, Barry has won three straight - including ending WSU's season in each of the last two campaigns.

The Buccaneers and the Warriors met in the NCAA Championship for the 2022 season, which BU won 4-1 to clinch the title. They also notched a 4-1 win in the NCAA Quarterfinals over the Green and Gold in 2023.

Barry is the second-ranked team behind Valdosta State in the newest edition of the ITA National Rankings released on February 14. Adam Lynch is the third-ranked singles player in the country, while also the No. 1 player in the South Region. Also appearing in the regional rankings for the Buccaneers are Joao Ferreira (11th) and Tim Reidel (14th). Ferreira and David Rieme are 10th for the South Region in doubles.

BU is coached by Thomas Hipp in his third season at the helm of the men's tennis program in Miami Shores, Fla. Hipp has led his team to a 48-11 (.814) overall record, along with two NCAA National Championships. He is assisted by Fred Bonal, Kern Pedersen, Vincent Versier, and Martin Gutierrez.

Follow WSUAthletics.com for continuing coverage this weekend from the UIndy Tennis Center.

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Players Mentioned

Cedric Drenth: 6' 2"; Junior

Daniel Grey: 6' 0"; Senior

Dom Spicer: 5' 11"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Cedric Drenth
: 6' 2"; Junior

Daniel Grey
: 6' 0"; Senior

Dom Spicer
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student