GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—The Colorado Mesa University men's tennis team will play their first and only three duals of the fall season this weekend when they head to Pueblo City Park for the Pueblo Duals.
The Mavericks will open the weekend on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. against Nebraska-Kearney. They will then play Lubbock Christian that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend at 9 a.m. on Saturday against Newman.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks got their 2024 fall season underway last weekend competing in the Colorado College Invitational, which brought together players from four teams for an individual singles and doubles tournament on Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 7-8) at Memorial Park.
Junior
Henry Scheck led the Mavs' efforts, going a perfect 4-0 while winning the "A" singles bracket. He dropped just one set and defeated a pair of Colorado College players and two others from MSU Denver.
Teammates
Emil Hultman and
William Leschig also reached the final of the consolation bracket at "A" singles but did not play that match against each other.
In doubles, Scheck and Leschig went 1-1 and advanced to the unplayed final of the "A" doubles back draw.
First two wins
Maverick newcomers
Luke Burriesci and
Romain Payan both recorded their first two wins in a Maverick uniform during the Colorado Invitational. Burriesci, a product of Boise, Idaho, wasted little time in recording his first win, pulling out a 7-6 (7-4), 0-6, 1-0 (10-2) win over CC's James Andrews in the opening round of the "B" singles draw.
He also won his opening "B" doubles draw match with teammate
Jamison Pfingston.
Payan, a native of Paris, France, was in the "A" singles draw and was able to come from a set down to defeat CC's Hudson Chris by a 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-6) scoreline in the opening round of 16. Payan then lost his quarterfinal match but bounced back for a consolation win over CC's Dominik Kaminski on Sunday.
Team Time
After the individual tournament, the Mavericks now turn their attention to team tennis, where the intensity level is sure to be raised a notch or two.
Maverick Head Coach
Dan MacDonald has announced his probable lineup below, which includes five returning players, four of which were consistent starters last year.
Singles
1.
William Leschig
2.
Romain Payan
3.
Henry Scheck
4.
Emil Hultman
5.
Philemon Jabin
6.
Jamison Pfingston
Alternate:
Luke Burriesci
Doubles
1. Leschig/Scheck
2. Hultman/Jabin
3. Pfingston or Burriesci/Payan
Know Your Foes
Nebraska-Kearney – Friday (8:30 a.m.)
The Lopers are coming off a 13-11, 2023-24 season, their first after stopping sponsorship of men's tennis following the 2017-18 season.
Now sophomore Andy Brisdon led the team with 13 singles wins (13-5) last year in his debut season while Jip Mens recorded a winning 12-10 mark. Aaron Osmond (10-9) also returns after posting a winning season. Tom van den Dungen, who also returns, and Osmond were also a strong 16-6 at No. 1 doubles last year while Brisdon and Jakub Strzelecki another sophomore returnee, were 11-7 as a duo.
The Lopers played in the Rockhurst Invitational in Kansas City last weekend as Alex Jaulin, Mens and Strzelecki all went 2-1. Mens reached the "red" final, which was not played while Jaulin did the same in the "purple" final.
Lubbock Christian – Friday (4:30 p.m.)
The Chaps qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year, finishing the campaign with an 18-7 overall record, including a 5-3 Lone Star Conference mark. They also reached the semifinals of the LSC Tournament as the No. 4 seed. They also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2023, their first season with a team.
Mattia Ghedin returns for his junior year this season after earning LSC Newcomer of the Year honors in the spring. He and Pablo Segura were all Second Team All-LSC singles selections last year.
The Chaps won three flight titles last weekend at the Brother Al Invitational, hosted by St. Mary's in San Antonio. Segura won the Flight 2 crown while Andres De Los Rios and Tristan Vigneron won In Flights 4 and 5, respectively.
Ghedin and Kelly Gies reached the final of Flight A in doubles.
Newman – Saturday (9 a.m.)
The Jets finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 10-12 record. They were 2-7 in MIAA play.
Brady Matthews, a former assistant at Cowley College, has taken over the reigns of the Jet program following the retirement of 20-year coach Shella Augspurger, who will remain as a volunteer assistant coach for Matthews for the remainder of the 2024 calendar year.
Matthews has a large roster of 16 men to work with this year, who hail from eight different countries.
Up Next
The Mavericks will be off next weekend before concluding their brief but jam-packed fall season at the Sept. 26-28 ITA West Regional Championships in Azusa, California.
