MOBILE, Ala. --The Blazers begin their quest for a long run in the tournament with a matchup against Spring Arbor (Mich.)—the winner of the Crossroads Conference—on Tuesday May 12 in Mobile, Alabama. However, the team was able to get away from the court for a few moments on Monday to particpate in a community service event in Mobile.
All members of the Belhaven men's tennis team helped host an event to teach and play tennis with local youth in an effort to build a sense of community between the NAIA and host cities. The Blazers enjoyed a few hours of fun on the court with the future stars of American tennis.
On Monday evening at the NAIA tournament banquet, sophomore
Jefferson Nino was named as the ITA Player to Watch for his progress on the court. Nino went 15-4 in singles play this season and checked in as the No. 32 ranked player in the last ITA rankings released in the middle of April.
Belhaven will appear in their second consecutive national tournament and their second overall after the format was changed a few years ago. Last year the Blazers defeated Campbellsville University (Ky.) in the first round 5-4 before being handled by eventual national champion Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) in round two.
The Blazers reached new heights in 2013 by finishing their regular season with a 15-4 record and going 3-1 in the SSAC West. Belhaven easily defeated Lee University in the first round of the SSAC Tournament before avenging a mid-season loss against in-state rival William Carey. In their first SSAC finals appearance theBlazers managed a few close matches against No. 2 Auburn-Montgomery, but fell by a score of 5-1.
Their first round opponent won the Crossroads Conference championship by defeating Grace College (Ind.) in their final match of the fall season. Due to frigid temperatures and non-cooperating weather, the Cougars are forced to play many of their matches during the fall months.
Spring Arbor is led by senior David Darling who posted a singles record of 23-2 during the regular season. He split time between first and second singles with D-I transfer Thomas Calderone, but Calderone has been limited to only doubles play in the fall. Also posting impressive stats in singles this season for the Cougars was Aaron Mayes. Mayes finished the year with a 21-4 record playing at the second and third spots in the lineup.
David Darling and Nathan Scholten combine as the Cougars top doubles squad with a record of 17-5. Their mark is comparable to the Blazers refurbished top spot of
Nikita Lisov and
Andres Yepez, who have started to mesh very well together after the mid-season change.
The winner of this first round matchup will go on to play sixth-ranked Xavier University (La.) on day two of the tourney. Belhaven and Xavier played earlier in the season when the Gold Nuggets slugged out a 5-4 victory over the Blazers. The Blazers and Spring Arbor Cougars have never met in tournament competition.
