Men's Tennis Hosts Niagara In Spring Season Opener

2/18/2022 4:25:00 PM

Match #4
Daemen Wildcats (0-3, 0-0 ECC) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (4-0, 0-0 MAAC)
Saturday, Feb. 19 | 7 p.m. | Williamsville, N.Y. | Miller Tennis Center

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. SPRING SEASON COMMENCES
The Daemen men's tennis team opens the spring portion of their 2021-22 season Saturday night when they play host to Division I Niagara. It's the first of 18 matches on the docket which includes seven home contests.

2. FALL SEASON RECAP
Daemen will be taking the court for the first time since suffering a 7-0 loss to this same Niagara Purple Eagles squad back on Oct. 24. The Wildcats went 0-3 in dual matches during the brief fall season, including a tough 4-3 setback to regional rival Le Moyne on Oct. 10. In addition to their dual matches, the Wildcats also participated in the ITA East Region Championships held in mid-September at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

3. AROUND THE ECC
Daemen has been picked fourth in the East Coast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll which was released last month. The ECC features just four competing men's tennis teams this season with four-time defending champ Queens picked as the unanimous favorite once again. St. Thomas Aquinas, which fell to Queens in the conference tournament finals last season, was picked second while District of Columbia was picked third. All four teams will advance to the ECC Championship which is slated for April 29-30 at Queens. Daemen gets their conference season underway March 26 against District of Columbia.

4. FRESH FACES
The Wildcats welcomed several newcomers to the program last fall, including head coach Richard Greco, Jr. who is in his first season at the helm. He has 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 overall record in two seasons. Both de Vuyst and Laplante, along with returners Phillip Vance and Sam Greco, figure to be key contributors this spring as Daemen deals with the loss of lineup staples Ben Davis and Jose Williamson III.

5. UP NEXT
The Wildcats make their first road trip of the spring season next Wednesday, Feb. 23 when they face Division III Allegheny.

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES SCOUTING REPORT
Niagara is a member of NCAA Division I and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Purple Eagles are led by head coach Erick Garcia who is in his fifth full season at the helm.

The Purple Eagles return seven players from their 2020-21 team that posted a 3-8 overall record. Senior Jorge Sedeno leads the group after posting a team-high five singles wins last season, all in the No. 1 position of NU's lineup.

NU is off to a 4-0 start this season. They opened their spring season last weekend with a 5-2 win over Saint Francis (Pa.). Grad student Eduardo Villalpando led the way, picking up wins in both singles and doubles play. His 6-4 win alongside Sedeno in the No. 3 position secured the doubles point for NU.

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. NIAGARA
Series Record: 0-6
At Daemen: 0-4
Current Streak: Lost 6
Last Meeting: Niagara 7, Daemen 0 | Oct. 24, 2021 | at Niagara University, N.Y.

Print Friendly Version