Men's Tennis 3/11/2019 7:00:00 PM

Men's Tennis Set for Full Slate at Home

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The Highlanders a ready for full work load this week as the UC Riverside Men's Tennis Team is set to host a flurry of teams in a five-match week. UCR hosts Navy at the SRC Tennis Courts Tuesday morning before a Thursday doubleheader with Illinois State and Concordia-Irvine and a Saturday doubleheader with Quinnipiac and Azusa Pacific.

HIGLANDER HISTORY
On February 16th, senior captain Kyle McCann etched his name in the Highlander history books as his doubles win against Delaware made him the program's all-tome leader in singles wins, doubles wins, and overall wins.

WALK-OFF
The Highlanders' home-opener with Air Force was an exciting match that came down to the final set. The Falcons would earn the doubles point and shortly after take a 3-1 lead in the overall match puttiing UCR in a must win situation. Freshman Andreas Whelan-Merediz would cut the lead with a win on six and senior Kyle McCann's big win on one tied the match at 3-3. With the match on the line, junior Nabil Abdallah would fight to a three set victory on court two giving the Highlanders a huge come from behind win in walk-off fashion.

RACQUETS? OR BROOMS?
Four of UCR's wins have come from perfect performances by the Highlanders. The team swept Arizona Christian, Arizona-Ottawa, St. Francis, and Copping State.

WALK-OFF
The Highlanders' home-opener with Air Force was an exciting match that came down to the final set. The Falcons would earn the doubles point and shortly after take a 3-1 lead in the overall match puttiing UCR in a must win situation. Freshman Andreas Whelan-Merediz would cut the lead with a win on six and senior Kyle McCann's big win on one tied the match at 3-3. With the match on the line, junior Nabil Abdallah would fight to a three set victory on court two giving the Highlanders a huge come from behind win in walk-off fashion.

HIGHLANDER HISTORY
Since Head Coach Mattias Johansson took over, the Highlanders have broken the program's Division I wins record every year:

2015-16 - 13
2016-17 - 14
2017-18 - 16

ALL-CONFERENCE
The Highlanders have a very different look from last year, but one thing that has remained is the pairing of sophomore Filip Engstrom and senior Kyle McCann who were named Big West Honorable Mentions as a doubles team last year.

Players Mentioned

Nabil Abdallah: 6' 2"; Junior

Filip Engstrom: Sophomore

Kyle McCann: 6' 1"; Senior

Andreas Whelan-Merediz: 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nabil Abdallah
: 6' 2"; Junior

Filip Engstrom
: Sophomore

Kyle McCann
: 6' 1"; Senior

Andreas Whelan-Merediz
: 5' 11"; Freshman