Ducks Open Season With Home Doubleheader

EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Oregon men's tennis team begins its 2019 dual season Sunday with a home doubleheader at the Student Tennis Center. The Ducks play host to Idaho at 10 a.m. (PT) followed by a match against Seattle U at 3 p.m.

The Matchup
Oregon has advanced to three-consecutive NCAA Tournaments with 15 or more wins in each of the past seven years. Head coach Nils Schyllander owns a 174-123 (.586) career record in 12 seasons at the helm of the UO program. Idaho is the defending Big Sky champion and played in the 2018 NCAA Tournament while Seattle U had 10 wins and returns five of six from last year's singles lineup.

In the Rankings
After a productive beginning to their year, the Ducks collected five rankings in the final ITA poll of the fall. Senior Thomas Laurent headlines the group at No. 5 in the nation while three UO doubles teams are inside the top 40.

Singles
No. 5 Thomas Laurent (7-2 fall record)
No. 99 Emmanuel Coste (10-3)

Doubles
No. 24 Joshua Charlton/Thomas Laurent (7-2)
No. 28 Emmanuel Coste/Ty Gentry (3-1)
No. 38 Charles Roberts/Armando Soemarno (7-1)

Stalking the Wins Record
Senior Thomas Laurent enters his spring campaign at 82 career wins which ranks fourth on the UO all-time singles list. He posted a 7-2 record in the fall and had a run to the semifinals at the ITA National Fall Championships. Laurent also has 70 career doubles wins.

UO Career Singles Wins
1. Jayson Amos (2013-17), 93-34 (.732)
2. Robin Cambier (2010-14), 90-43 (.677)
3. Sven Swinnen (2001-05), 84-37 (.694)
4. Thomas Laurent (2015-pres.), 82-22 (.788)
5. Daan Maasland (2012-16), 76-38 (.667)

Across the Net
The Ducks are receiving votes in the Jan. 9 release of the ITA preseason top-25 poll. Oregon is scheduled to play eight teams (four ranked, four receiving votes) in the preseason poll. After the season opener, Oregon will play in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at Stanford.

Regional Champs
Newcomer Emmanuel Coste won the ITA Northwest Regional title while the team of Joshua Charlton and Thomas Laurent took home the doubles crown. UO is the first program to sweep Northwest Regional titles since Cal in 2013. The Ducks have won back-to-back regional doubles titles.

Duck Invitational Sweep
Junior Ty Gentry capped his fall season with a victory at the Duck Invitational. He posted a straight-set win over Portland's Carlos Donat to claim the singles title. In doubles, Charles Roberts and Armando Soemarno swept through the bracket to secure their second win of the fall; also won the UCSB Classic.

Spencer Back Home with the Ducks
Former UO standout Arron Spencer (2002-06) is back in Eugene as the program's new assistant coach. He was ranked as high as No. 9 nationally in doubles. Prior to re-joining the program, Spencer had stops at Arizona and the College of Charleston.

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