LAFAYETTE, La. – A youthful Alcorn State University men's tennis program will kick-off the 2019 campaign with a 1 p.m. match Sunday against UL-Lafayette at Cajun Courts, followed by an 11 a.m. contest at Tulane on Monday at City Park Tennis Center.
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The Braves return four starters from a squad that reached the semifinals of the SWAC Championships last year. Lone senior
Nuno Rocha captain's a team that also includes two juniors, two sophomores and a pair of freshmen.
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"I'm looking forward to starting my first season as head coach. Our first few matches are against very strong opponents, but it will give us the opportunity to see where we're at currently. We have a young men's team with just one senior, so developing our players in January will be critical," said head coach
Barbara Oliveira. "The goal is to be in championship form by the end of the year."
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Alcorn's top returnee is sophomore
Stojan Stojanovski who played No. 2 singles last year as a freshman. He earned a spot on the SWAC All-Conference Team and posted a 9-7 record at No. 2 singles including a 4-2 mark in conference.
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On the court next to him was sophomore
Johnatan Parat at No. 3 singles who went 3-1 in conference. Rocha played at No. 5 and junior
Ivan Matas at No. 6.
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The Braves will look to replace
Kert Kilumets at No. 1 singles. Kilumets, a two-time SWAC Player of the Year honoree, never lost a conference match in his two years at Alcorn.
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The Braves added three newcomers including JUCO transfer
Gjorgji Popovski and freshmen
Kareem Bowe and
Santiago Rocca.
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The Ragin Cajuns were 18-10 overall last year, while the Green Wave were 18-7.
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The Alcorn women's program will begin the year at home on Saturday, Jan. 26 when they host Stephen F. Austin at 11 a.m. at the Alcorn Tennis Courts.
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