Charlotte Men’s Tennis Targets Three-Match Winning Streak Against UNC Asheville
The Charlotte men’s tennis team (2-0) eyes a three-match winning streak as they host UNC Asheville at LifeTime Fitness on Sunday, January 21, at 12 p.m. noon. The Niners opened their 2024 dual match season indoors at LifeTime Fitness last week, securing victories against Queens and The Citadel.
Live Coverage and Recent Results
Live statistics will be available for both men’s tennis matches this weekend, but live video will not be accessible at LifeTime Fitness. The Niners commenced their campaign with a 5-2 triumph over Queens last Saturday, followed by a comprehensive 7-0 rout of The Citadel the ensuing day.
Sophomore Carlos Iturbe has emerged as a leading force for Charlotte, notching two singles victories while contributing the doubles clinching point and match point in singles against Queens. Sophomore Ethan Simon also clinched the match against Queens, securing one of five straight-set victories for the Niners.
In addition to Iturbe and Simon, sophomores Gabriel Prata and Zach Schlossmann have also started the season with 2-0 records in singles competition. Prata and Schlossmann have teamed up effectively on court two, earning a pair of wins.
UNC Asheville Overview
UNC Asheville opens its spring season against Charlotte after participating in four fall events, including the Charlotte Fall Invitational. In their home event in September, Charlotte dominated the Bulldogs, winning six of seven matches, including four straight-set victories in singles competition.
First-year head coach Matt Frost leads the Bulldogs, inheriting a squad that returns all but one player from last season’s 9-10 campaign. Notable returners include 2023 First Team All-Big South Singles selection Sam Nicholson and 2023 Second Team All-Big South Doubles pair Jon Brann Reid and Rafa Serra. UNC Asheville was predicted to finish third in the five-team Big South.
Historical Rivalry and Matchup Trends
Charlotte boasts a 6-1 all-time record against UNC Asheville, winning the last six encounters after dropping the initial meeting. Their most recent clash resulted in a 6-1 victory for the Niners on February 18, 2023, in Asheville, N.C. Iturbe, Simon, and Prata secured victories in singles courts one through five.
The first-ever meeting between the two schools occurred on March 4, 2011, with the Bulldogs prevailing 5-1. Krzysztof Kwasniewicz earned Charlotte’s lone point at the No. 5 singles slot.
Challenging Spring Schedule
Charlotte’s 23-match spring schedule features five 2023 NCAA Tournament participants, six fellow American Athletic Conference programs, and eight teams ranked in the top 75 of last season’s year-end ITA rankings. After opening with three home matches, the Niners will embark on six consecutive road matches from January 27 to February 11.
The next home stretch from February 17 to February 25 includes South Carolina State, a 2023 NCAA Tournament participant, and Liberty, the reigning 2023 NIT Champions. Of Charlotte’s final six matches, four opponents were either ranked in the ITA Top 75 or made the NCAA Tournament in 2023. Notably, the Niners will host three of those four formidable opponents at home.
New Additions Bolster Charlotte’s Roster
Charlotte’s roster has been strengthened by the addition of talented players, including graduate transfer Alan Richards from Wichita State and junior transfer Nico Schlossmann from Austin Peay. Richards, a touted doubles player, brings experience and success from his time with the Shockers, while Schlossmann was a two-time all-conference selection with the Governors.
Impressive Fall Performance
In the 2023-24 fall season, Charlotte compiled a 48-34 record in singles competition and a 22-11 mark in doubles play across five events. Iturbe emerged as a standout performer, defeating a nationally ranked player from Princeton and claiming the B1 singles flight title at the Wake Forest Invitational. He is currently ranked among the top-125 players in the ITA Singles’ Ranking.
Looking Ahead
After opening the spring season with three consecutive home matches, Charlotte will travel to Blacksburg, Va., to face Virginia Tech and Radford in a pair of contests on Sunday, January 28.
Stay tuned for live updates, highlights, and recaps of Charlotte men’s tennis matches throughout the season on 49ersports.com.