Six things you need to know about the 2023 Men’s Tennis team
History links
The RIT men’s tennis team resumes its 2022-23 season on Friday February 3 in Daemen. Here are six things you need to know about this year’s team, led by fifth-year head coach Tom Linhart.
last season
RIT finished 9-9 in doubleheaders in 2021-22, including six home wins.
Six players return this year, while graduate student Jacob Myerson and senior Jake Wolicki graduated after playing near the top of the doubles roster throughout last season.
Sophomore Grahith Movva impressed in his first year on campus, finishing with a team record 12 wins.
Back in the fall…
The Tigers played two events last fall, competing in the St. Lawrence Fall Classic and the ITA Northeast Regional. Sophomore Christian Berko finished second in the “A” consolation bracket at St. Lawrence, while freshman Brian Bork finished second in the “B” consolation bracket.
Veteran Leadership
Graduate student Brennan Bull returns for her final season after missing much of 2021-22 through injury. Bull was an honorable mention All-Liberty League selection in 2019 after winning seven matches apiece in the top spots in singles and doubles. .
“He is by far our most experienced player,” Linhart said. “Bringing him back is going to be a really good anchor, and he’s probably played the smartest game he’s ever played since coming here.”
Simple
Berko and junior Grahith Movva were the main singles players in Flight “A” at both events held in the fall. . Coach Linhart expects the two, along with Bork and Bull, to be mainstays in the roster this spring.
“It won’t be just one player,” Linhart said. “It will be about who shows up. All of our guys can earn points for us in the roster. It will be interesting to see what combination we get.”
Double
Berko and Movva formed one of the top doubles teams in the RIT, reaching the “A” quarter-finals of the St. Lawrence Fall Classic. Coach Linhart says they will likely continue to be the best doubles team going into doubles matches.
Linhart expects Bull and second Joel Pho to be the second doubles team, while Bork and second Verosh Jayanetti will be the Tigers’ third doubles team to start the spring season.
Program
RIT kicks off the spring season Friday February 3 in Daemen, before the Tigers open the Liberty League game in Vassar (February 11). RIT return home to host Nazareth (February 14) ahead of a road game at RPI (February 17).
The Tigers will host Ithaca (February 25) and Skidmore (February 26) at Midtown Athletic Club, before heading to NYU (March 4) and the College of New Jersey (March 5) the following weekend.
RIT hosts Bard (March 11) and plays Houghton (March 21). The Tigers host St. John Fisher (March 29) before a trip to play St. Lawrence (April 1), followed by a home game against Union (April 15).
The Tigers conclude the regular season with road games in Hobart (April 18) and Oneonta (April 23) before the Liberty League Championships are scheduled for April 28-20.