Jose Williamson III is back for a fifth season with the Daemen men's program. He ranks seventh in program history for career wins.

Men's Tennis Opens Season Wednesday At RIT

9/14/2021 10:15:00 AM

Match #1
Daemen Wildcats (0-0, 0-0 ECC) vs. RIT Tigers (0-0, 0-0 LL)
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 15
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Rochester, N.Y. | RIT Tennis Courts

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. LET'S GET IT STARTED
The Daemen men's tennis team gets the 2021-22 season underway Wednesday by facing RIT. It marks a return to fall competition for the Wildcats who played the entire 2020-21 season in the spring due to COVID-19. Daemen's last fall match was a 7-0 loss at Southern New Hampshire on Oct. 6, 2019 - more than 700 days ago. The Wildcats will look to snap a nine-match slide after finishing the 2020-21 season with a 1-9 overall record, and also avenge a 5-4 loss to the Tigers last April. The Wildcats have won 16 of their last 18 matches against NCAA Division III opponents.

2. BACK IN THE FOLD
The Wildcats welcome six players back to the roster this season, including junior Ben Davis who made an immediate impact in his first season with the program after transferring from Roberts Wesleyan. Davis posted 5-5 records in both singles and doubles play, appearing exlusively in the No. 1 position in the Wildcats' lineup for each. He became just the third player in team history to earn All-ECC recognition. Also back is graduate student Jose Williamson III who will exercise a fifth season of eligibility granted to student-athletes because of the disruptions brought about by COVID-19. Williamson III holds 47 combined singles/doubles wins in his career, ranking seventh in program history. Junior Phillip Vance and sophomores Sam Greco and Ross Belen, all key contributors last season, also return.

3. FRESH FACES
The Wildcats welcome several newcomers to the program, including head coach Richard Greco, Jr. who was appointed to the position earlier this summer. He'll have a pair of transfers to work with as juniors Luis de Vuyst and Zachary Laplante bring prior collegiate playing experience. The program's first-ever player from Belgium, de Vuyst appeared in 20 matches over two seasons at Coker College (S.C.). LaPlante is closer to his home (Ottawa, Canada) after beginning his career at Salem University (W.Va.) where he helped the Tigers to a 10-5 overal record in two seasons. Jayven Williamson, the younger brother of Jose, is also in the mix as the team's lone freshman.

4. FIRST OF THREE
Wednesday's action is the first of three dual matches on Daemen's abbreviated fall schedule. The Wildcats, who will play the bulk of their dual matches next spring, will host Le Moyne on Oct. 9 and visit Division I Niagara on Oct. 24.

5. ON THE HORIZON
The Wildcats will take four players - Williamson III, Greco, de Vuyst and LaPlante - to compete at the prestigious ITA East Region Championships being held Sept. 17-20 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

RIT TIGERS SCOUTING REPORT
RIT is a member of NCAA Division III and the Liberty League. Head coach Raphaela Jann, a former Division I student-athlete (Lipscomb), is in her second season leading the Tigers who return four players from their 2020-21 team that finished with a 5-7 overall record. Senior Jake Wolicki returns after tying for the team lead in singles victories (7) last season. Graduate student Jacob Meyerson and senior Brennan Bull also return after posting six singles wins apiece. The Tigers got their season underway this past weekend at the St. Lawrence Fall Classic where Wolicki and Meyerson teamed up to win the B-flight doubles championship.

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. RIT
Series Record: RIT 2-1
At RIT: RIT 2-0
Last Meeting: RIT 5, Daemen 4 | April 21, 2021 | at Mendon, N.Y.

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