Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The 31st-ranked Virginia Tech men's tennis team will open the 2018 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship on Friday, May 11 in a 10 a.m. match against No. 25 Kentucky at Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio where third-seeded Ohio State is hosting a regional site.
This marks the Hokies (17-7) 11th trip in 12 seasons to the NCAAs after missing the field in 2017. Tech also traveled to Columbus in 2016 when they also faced the Wildcats in the opening round. The Hokies defeated Kentucky 4-3 after winning the doubles point and claiming singles points from former student-athletes Joao Monteiro, Andreas Bjerrehus and Edoardo Tessaro.
Heading into the match, Virginia Tech is led by Mitch Harper who is ranked 29th in the ITA with a 14-6 record at the one this spring. Alex Ribeiro is adding an impressive 18-5 tally, playing primarily at the three while Jason Kros is 13-9. Carlo Donato has posted a 15-6 record. In doubles Tech has two duos ranked with Ribeiro and Henrik Korsgaard leading the charge at 36th. They are 8-4 at the one this spring. Harper and Donato are 60th.
Kentucky (14-11) has two ranked players in the ITA singles standings with No. 8 Ryo Matsumura and No. 49 William Bushamuka. Both Wildcats players were on the team in 2016 and competed at the two and one, respectively. Matsumura is 17-4 while Bushamuka is 10-7. In doubles, Cesar Bourgois and Gus Benson lead the Wildcats at 18th with a 9-6 tally at the one.
Host team Ohio State (29-2) is ranked third in the ITA and will face ETSU in the opening round.
Schedule
Friday, May 11
10 a.m. – Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech
1 p.m. – Ohio State vs. ETSU
Saturday, May 12
Noon – advancing teams