Charlotte Men’s Tennis Continues Home Stand against UNC Asheville
Charlotte, N.C. – The Charlotte Men’s Tennis team (2-0) aims to extend its winning streak when they host UNC Asheville on Sunday, January 21, at 12 p.m. noon at LifeTime Fitness.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024
- Time: 12 p.m. noon
- Location: LifeTime Fitness (Indoor Courts)
- Live Stats: Available
- Live Video: Not Available
Niners Seek Third Straight Win
Charlotte opened its 2024 dual match season with a pair of victories at LifeTime Fitness last weekend, defeating Queens University of Charlotte, 5-2, and The Citadel, 7-0.
Strong Start for Iturbe and Prata
Freshman Martin Iturbe has made an immediate impact for the Niners, winning both of his singles matches at the No. 1 position. He also clinched the doubles point against Queens and provided the match-winning point in singles.
Senior Joao Prata, who missed most of the 2023 spring season due to a hand injury, has also returned to form, winning both of his singles matches. He teamed up with Schlossmann to win two doubles matches at the No. 2 position.
Scouting UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville opens its spring season against Charlotte after participating in four fall events, including the Charlotte Fall Invitational. The Bulldogs went 6-1 against the Niners in that tournament.
Head Coach Matt Frost, who is entering his first spring campaign with the Bulldogs, returns all but one player from last season’s 9-10 squad. Sam Nicholson, a 2023 First Team All-Big South Singles selection, and Jon Brann Reid and Rafa Serra, a 2023 Second Team All-Big South Doubles pair, highlight the returners.
Series History
Charlotte leads the all-time series against UNC Asheville, 6-1. The Niners have won the last six matchups, including a 6-1 victory in Asheville last season.
Looking Ahead
After facing UNC Asheville, the Niners will hit the road for six straight matches, beginning with a trip to Virginia Tech and Radford on January 28. They will return home on February 17 to host South Carolina State, a 2023 NCAA Tournament participant, and Liberty, the reigning 2023 NIT Champions.
Additional Notes
- 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.
- The Niners added three newcomers to their roster this season: graduate transfer Noah Richards from Wichita State, junior transfer Noah Schlossmann from Austin Peay, and freshman Nico Dreyer.
- Iturbe is ranked 117th in the most recent ITA Singles’ Ranking, making him one of the top-125 players in the country.
- Charlotte is now a member of the American Athletic Conference after spending 10 seasons in Conference USA.
- The Niners’ goal is to bring an AAC Championship back to the Queen City.
The Niners are off to a strong start to the 2024 season and will look to continue their winning ways against UNC Asheville on Sunday. With a talented roster and a supportive home crowd, Charlotte is poised for success this season.
Come out and cheer on the Niners as they take on the Bulldogs this Sunday at LifeTime Fitness. Admission is free and open to the public.