KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's tennis team heads to the University of Tennessee to take part in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kickoff Weekend, taking on Memphis on Friday at 6 p.m.
The Broncos earned a spot in the prestigious tournament after finishing last season ranked 44th in the nation. WMU was then drafted by Tennessee, along with Memphis and Old Dominion. Western Michigan will then take on either ODU or UT on Saturday.
All matches will be streamed live here. Live results can also be followed here.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Western Michigan is 2-1 heading into the ITA Kickoff Weekend with wins over Butler and Ferris State. The lone loss came at No. 17 Michigan. WMU also had a match with Notre Dame rescheduled due to COVID issues within the UND program.
Despite the loss to the Wolverines, WMU picked up its first MAC weekly honors as Peter Kuszynski earned MAC Men's Tennis Singles Player of the Week after an impressive three-set win over Michigan's Andrew Fenty. With the win Kuszynski improved to 2-1 in dual matches and 7-6 overall in singles play. Freshman Anton Arzhankin has the top record on the team at 11-2, while sophomore Brogan Pierce has a team-high 12 wins and a 12-5 record. The team of Pierce and sophomore Benjamin George has a team-best doubles record of 4-2.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Memphis is 2-0 in dual matches so far this season with wins over Jackson State and on the road at Northwestern. The Tigers earned the bid in the ITA Kickoff Weekend after finishing the 2020-21 season ranked 35th. WMU is 2-0 all time against Memphis.
Pablo Alemany Malea, Harry Rock and David Stevenson have all started the dual match season with 2-0 records in singles play. Oscar Cutting is 1-1, playing both matches at No. 1. The Tigers have yet to drop a doubles match with Alemany Malea and Rock going 2-0 to lead the team.
SCOUTING THE MONARCHS
Old Dominion earned its trip to the ITA Kickoff Weekend after finishing last season ranked 53rd. The Monarchs will face No. 1 Tennessee on Friday at 1 p.m. before facing either WMU or Memphis on Saturday. ODU is 1-1 in dual matches so far this season with a neutral site win over Penn State and a loss at Auburn.
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS
Tennessee fell to Baylor in the NCAA Semifinals last season, finishing the year ranked No. 4. So far the Volunteers are off to a 4-0 start in dual match play with impressive wins over No. 5 TCU and No. 10 Wake Forest, leading to the team moving up to No. 1 in the most recent ITA rankings. Shunsuke Mitsui is 3-0 on the season in singles, while Johannus Monday and Adam Walton are both 2-0 while rotating between No. 1 and 2. Mitsui and Emile Hudd have a team-best two wins in doubles action.
ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan returns home to host Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. at West Hills Athletic Club.
