EDINBORO, Pa. - The Fighting Scots tennis programs will face non-conference opponent and fellow Erie County institution, Penn State Behrend, at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26. Both the men and women will be competing against Behrend and the match will take place at the neutral site of the Westwood Racquet Club. The men will also be in action against Shepherd University on Saturday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. at the Westwood Racquet Club
The men's tennis team comes into the contest winners of three straight matches, including two wins last weekend against PSAC opponents Bloomsburg and Kutztown. The women showed some improvement in their Sunday match vs. Seton Hill as they picked up three victories in the match; two in singles and one in doubles.
The women hold a 1-0 all-time record over the Behrend Lions as the programs last squared off in February of 2012. The men also hold an identical 1-0 record over the Lions with their win coming in 2012. Overall, neither program has dropped a match against Behrend and they are a combined 18-0 against them. On the season, the Lions come into Friday nights title with 0-1 overall records after they were defeated by Pitt-Greensburg last week.
As for the men's program against Shepherd, the Fighting Scots will be facing the Rams for just the second time in program history. Edinboro will look to even the score at 1-1 as they welcome them to Erie for a PSAC tilt. So far on the season, Shepherd is 0-1 with the loss coming against Shenandoah University.
As for Edinboro, the men's team features six players who have a .500 record or better in singles action. Gustavo Martins and Thibault Dorval are both 5-1 on the season with Kaio Sacchi close behind having four singles wins so far this season. Ruben Acuna and Takahiro Inoue have each won both of their PSAC matches so far on the year and both sit at 3-3. Kai Chin Chen has also been a great player at the number six singles sport for the Fighting Scots and has won three singles matches as well.
As for the women's team, sophomore Torye Calleja will look to begin a winning streak after her victory at number two singles on March 21 against Seton Hill. Kaede Tada sits at 3-2 on the season playing in the number one singles position for the women's program. The duo of Emily Cevera and Lauren Chiacchia will look to make it two straight doubles wins after their victory at number three doubles over the Seton Hill Griffins.
Edinboro Head Tennis Coach Kody Duncan had this to say about his hopes for the teams this weekend. "I'm hoping for both teams to compete hard this weekend. We need to stay focused throughout the match and I believe we will. We should have no problem going back inside. Both teams are used to Westwood and can adjust accordingly."
