Upstate Hosts Mercer, Kennesaw State on Senior Weekend
4/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's tennis team closes the 2014 regular season this weekend when the Spartans play host to Mercer Friday at 2 p.m. and Kennesaw State Saturday at 2 p.m. from the USC Upstate Tennis Complex.
Prior to Saturday's match with Kennesaw State, Upstate head coach Oliver Trittenwein will honor Gonzalo Blanco, Yvon Haessig and Matthias Kidler with a special ceremony recognizing the achievements of each of the members of the senior class.
Upstate enters the weekend having won three of its last five matches and will look to clinch a berth in the upcoming Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. The Spartans currently sit tied with Kennesaw State for the sixth and final spot in the tournament, while Mercer stands in fifth place just one match ahead of Upstate.
"We are excited to host both Mercer and Kennesaw State in our final two home matches of the year," Trittenwein said. "This is a very special match because it will be the last time we face Mercer as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. It's also special because our three seniors will be participating in their last home match, and I am sure they want to leave a lasting impression on the Upstate fans. Finally, the outcomes of these matches have postseason implications and will determine whether or not we qualify for one of the six spots in the A-Sun Tournament."
Sophomore Jamie Yates leads Upstate with an 11-4 overall record in singles play, which includes a 4-2 mark inside the conference. He ranks fourth in the conference with a .786 winning percentage and has the most wins of any player from the No. 4 position with eight.
In doubles play, Blanco and Kidler have put together an 8-3 overall record and are 3-3 in league play.
Mercer won its last two matches to improve to 9-14 overall and 3-3 in conference play, but has lost six straight matches against Upstate.
Kennesaw State has dropped four straight matches and now owns an 8-9 overall mark and a 2-4 record in the A-Sun. The Spartans have also enjoyed a great deal of success against the Owls, having won five straight dating back to the 2008-09 season.
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