Hokies prepare for massive non-conference slate

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech men's tennis looks ahead to a big non-conference weekend featuring two doubleheaders against St. Bonaventure & Davidson on Friday, followed by Kentucky & George Mason on Sunday.

The highlight of the weekend will be the Hokies 11 a.m. match on Sunday against Kentucky. The Wildcats are coming off a run to the national championship last season and arrive as the No. 5 ranked team in the country.

BOUNCING BACK
The Hokies look to rebound after a dropping a a difficult match to Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon, 0-5. Despite the difficult outing to close its first road trip of the season, Tech enters this weekend coming off of their best start to a spring season since 2018 with a 3-1 mark. Coming into this spring ranked No. 32 in the nation, Ryan Fishback continues to play phenomenal tennis. The Geneva, N.Y. native leads Tech with a team-high three singles wins including a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, victory over No. 91 Younes Lalami at Old Dominion. 
 

ST. BONAVENTURE
The Bonnies come into Blacksburg on three match losing skid after starting the season with a convincing 5-2 win over Loyola (MD). Freshman Connor Turner has lead the way with a 9-6 singles record while also anchoring one of the teams best doubles pairing alongside senior Luke Riemann. St. Bonaventure dropped a pair of matches last weekend to Cleveland State and Xavier. It was the freshman that stepped up for the Bonnies with Archie Graham picking up the lone point against Xavier on Court 1 along with Turner earning his ninth win on the season.

DAVIDSON
The Wildcats enter this weekend seeking their first win of the season after an 0-2 start that includes losses to DePaul and UIC. Sophomore Nico Pinzon has been the lone bright spot for the 'Cats with a 2-0 mark in singles. After a difficult 1-6 loss at the hands of DePaul, the Wildcats showed improvement against UIC with Pinzon and Juan Camilo Perez Gongora each earning singles victories, but it was ultimately not enough as UIC prevailed 4-3.

NO. 5 KENTUCKY
In the marquee matchup of the weekend, the fifth-ranked Wildcats roll into town at a scalding 6-0 mark to start the 2023 spring season. The 'Cats are coming off a 2022 campaign that saw them compile a 26-8 record enroute to a national runner-up finish. Junior Joshua Lapadat returns for UK following a 30-8 singles record last season which earned him All-SEC Second Team and All-SEC Tournament team honors. The Ontario, Canada native comes into this spring ranked as the No. 14 singles player in the country. Last weekend, the Wildcats secured their bid to the 2023 ITA National Indoor Championships defeating Notre Dame, 5-2.

GEORGE MASON
The Patriots will travel to Mary Washington on Saturday for their season opener before coming to the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center to take on the Hokies. Junior Niza Simunyola is one of the top returners for the Pats, recording a team-high 11-3 singles record last season. Sophomore Alvaro Pedraza enters his second year with the program following a successful freshman campaign producing nine wins in 12 singles matches.