Texas A&M
Eastern Kentucky
Texas A&M Opens NCAA Play Against Eastern Kentucky
May 07, 2015 | Men's Tennis
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The sixth-seeded Texas A&M men's tennis team is set to open up the 2015 NCAA First Round with a matchup against Eastern Kentucky at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. The Aggies look to build on their 21-4 record while the Colonels look to bolster their 18-7 mark.
The back-to-back SEC Tournament champions are led in singles by the 47th-ranked player in the country in All-SEC and Tournament MVP senior Jeremy Efferding. The senior finished with 10 dual wins this spring in singles competition to bring his career wins total to 94, the most on the Aggie roster. The Boca Raton, Fla. native teamed with senior Jordan Szabo to finish 15-6 in doubles matches and 7-2 in SEC action.
Freshman Arthur Rinderknech joined Efferding on the SEC All-Tournament Team after tallying his first two wins over ranked opponents; the victories boosted the Paris, France native to No. 84 in the ITA singles rankings. The stringy right-hander was named to the All-SEC Second Team earlier this month, fellow freshman and doubles partner AJ Catanzariti and junior Shane Vinsant also represented the maroon and white on the SEC Second Team.
Catanzariti, the nation's 92nd ranked singles player, is in the midst of a banner freshman season. The Pittsburgh native advanced to the ITA All-American main draw in Tulsa with seven straight victories to advance through both the pre-qualification and qualification draw. The pace of play fanatic finished matches left and right throughout the season, going 36-9 overall, 19-4 in duals and 10-1 in SEC play. The first year collegian finished second on the team with six wins over ranked opponents. For his efforts this season the league's coaches named Catanzariti to the All-SEC Second team and All-Freshman Team.
Vinsant finished the season 6-3 in dual matches including a 5-1 record against SEC foes to land on the All-SEC Second Team. The Keller, Texas native has played all of his matches as the one or two line for the Aggies heading into the NCAA Tournament with five wins over ranked opponents. The junior ranks No. 10 alongside classmate Harrison Adams in the latest ITA doubles rankings, going 11-3 against ranked duos, including an unheard of 4-1 ledger against top-5 tandems.
Doubles has been a strong suit for the Aggies this season, having claimed the point in all but three matches this season. Leading the way for the team is the 10th-ranked duo of Adams and Vinsant. Joining the junior pair in the double's rankings are seniors Efferding and Szabo at No. 56 in the latest poll. The freshman duo of Catanzariti and Rinderknech round out the A&M doubles teams heading into the tournament.
Eastern Kentucky enters the NCAA Tournament after claiming both the OVC regular season and tournament titles. The Colonel's lineup is balanced from top to bottom. All six singles players have notched at least 10 victories this spring. Sophomore Sebastian Mueller has posted the team's best singles mark of 16-6 (.727).
Student admission for the NCAA Tennis matches this weekend is going to be "complimentary" thanks to Coach Joffe and Coach Denton. Students just need to present their student ID at the ticket window to receive GA admission.
The winner of the matchup between the Aggies and Colonels will take on the winner of Friday's 11 a.m. matchup between Oklahoma State and New Mexico on Saturday at 3 p.m. for a chance at the Sweet 16 in Waco. To learn more about the men's tennis program, visit 12thMan.com and follow @AggieMTEN on Twitter.
NCAA Notes:
- The Aggies are 32-23 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Round of Sixteen 12 times and the Round of 8 one time
- Texas A&M Head Coach Steve Denton is 12-8 all-time in the NCAA Tournament
- Texas A&M and Eastern Kentucky have never met on the tennis court
- Texas A&M is 21-9 vs. Oklahoma State (last met in 2012), the maroon and white have won the last seven match-ups between the two schools
- Texas A&M is 5-2 vs. New Mexico (last met in 2007)
Tournament Central:
tx.ag/15NCAATennis
NCAA FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS
(Mitchell Tennis Center, College Station, Texas)
Friday, May 8
Oklahoma State (16-9) vs. New Mexico (20-10), 11 a.m.
No. 6 Texas A&M (21-4) vs Eastern Kentucky (18-7), 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 9
Oklahoma State/New Mexico winner vs. No. 6 Texas A&M/Eastern Kentuckywinner, 3 p.m.
Ticket information:
Tickets to the first and second-round matches can be purchased in advance at 12thManFoundation.com or during business hours at the Athletic Ticket Office located at Kyle Field or by calling the ticket office at 1-888-99-AGGIE or 979-845-2311. Tickets also will be available for purchase on match days at the Mitchell Tennis Center beginning one hour before match time.
Student admission for the NCAA Tennis matches this weekend is going to be "complimentary" thanks to Coach Joffe & Coach Denton! Students just need to present their student ID at the ticket window to receive GA admission.
Prices are as follows, with the all-session ticket also allowing entry to the women's tennis first and second round matches to be played Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10 at the Mitchell Tennis Center:
$12 All-Session Reserved (Stadium Club)
$7 Single Day Reserved (Stadium Club)
$5 Single Day General Admission
$3 Single Day Student/Youth
Free for children under age two
Players Mentioned
