North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Men's Tennis Enters Spring at No. 45 Nationally
1/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 11, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State men's tennis team will begin the spring season ranked No. 45 nationally according to the latest poll released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Last season the Pack finished the year ranked No. 46 after starting the season at No. 75. The season opening ranking stands as the highest for the team since the ITA began preseason distinctions in the late 1980s.
"This is a very good starting point for our team, especially in comparison to where we were at this point last year," head coach Jon Choboy said. "At the same time, we have a lot of winning and a lot of hard work left ahead of us to get to where we want to be."
In addition to the team distinction, two members of the team were tabbed in the latest regional polls. Sophomore Nick Cavaday placed at No. 14 in singles in the Mideast region, while junior Andre Iriarte is 20th.
Cavaday fell only three times during the fall, posting a 7-3 singles record, while going 3-2 in doubles work. This past fall Iriarte led the team in singles wins, along with teammate David Rozek, collecting eight decisions and falling only four times. In doubles play, Iriarte went 3-1.
If there was ever any doubt that the NC State men's tennis program was improving by leaps and bounds, the team's performance last season should take care of any second-guessing. After entering last season at No. 75 nationally, Choboy's team battled its way to a No. 46 final national ranking, serving as the team's first final ranking since the 1999 squad finished at No. 49. In addition, Cavaday put an exclamation point on a solid first-year with a No. 108 final ranking in singles play.
NC State finished the year with a 15-12 record, going 2-8 in ACC regular season competition. The squad's 15 wins were the most since 1988 for a Wolfpack tennis team. Throughout the spring, NC State also downed six nationally ranked squads in head-to-head play, including No. 58 Louisiana Lafayette, No. 59 Brown, No. 68 Purdue, No. 70 Indiana, No. 30 Florida State and No. 68 William and Mary.
The Wolfpack will kick off its spring season on Saturday, Jan. 21, with three home matches against High Point, Gardner-Webb and North Carolina A&T State. All matches will be held at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center on the NC State campus.
