Mount St. Mary's (0-0) at UDC (1-0)
Tuesday September 13, 3:00 p.m.
Washington, D.C.
Mount Update: The men's team will open the 2011-2012 season at the University of the District of Columbia, (UDC) after their first match at the Bucknell Quad was cancelled. The team finished 7-12 overall last year, while posting a 1-3 record in conference play. The Mount fell to Quinnipiac in the Northeast Conference Tournament last year.
About UDC: The Firebirds opened the season with an 8-1 win over NYIT on Sunday. UDC won all the singles matches and went 2-1 in doubles to cruise to victory.
Last Meeting: Last year the Mount beat UDC 4-3 at the Mount St. Mary's Tennis Courts. The Mount took an early lead by winning the doubles point thanks to the teams of Matthew Blake/Taylor Place, and Patrick Plastow/Andrew Marinucci. Blake won at No. 1 singles and Marinucci clinched the win with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 win at the No. 6 spot.
The All-Time Series: This will the fifth all-time meeting between the Mount and UDC with the Mount holding a 4-0 lead against UDC. This will be the first road match against the Firebirds for the Mount. The Mount won the very first match back in 1991, 9-0.
About Last Year: Sophomores Mike Salomon and Matthew Blake each had double digit singles victories, to lead the team. Freshman Mike Zabetakis also joined the double digit club with 12 wins. On the doubles side, Zabetakis and Salomon teamed up to win eight doubles matches, the most out of those returning.
Senior Leadership: The team will have two seniors at the helm this year in Jastin Mostowtt (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic), and Riley Gates (Ellicott City, Md./Mount St. Joseph). Mostowtt has six singles wins in his career, and has four doubles wins in his three seasons at the Mount.
Three's Company: The team has a strong junior class with three members who have been a force in the Northeast Conference. Matthew Blake (Garnet Valley, Pa./Salesianum (Del.), Mike Salomon (Haymarket, Va./Seton School), and Taylor Place (Snellville, Ga./St. Pius X) make up the trio. Both Blake and Salomon have posted double digit singles wins with Blake having 28 for his career, and Salomon posting 31 in his two years thus far. Place had 14 singles wins his freshman campaign, and posted eight a year ago. Place has 27 career doubles win, the most of any player on the squad.
Mike in the Middle: Sophomore Mike Zabetakis (Finksburg, Md./Calvert Hall) posted a 10-5 mark at the number three spot last year, the best individual singles record of all returning players from a year ago.
Up Next: The men return to action Tuesday, September 20 when they take on Shepherd at home.
