ITHACA, NY Members of the NC State tennis team went a perfect 5-5 on the first day of the 15K Pro Future’s event in Ithaca, NY.
The next round of the tournament starts Tuesday morning.
“When you go 5-5 that’s a good day,” NC State assistant coach Cris James said.
Robin Carty, Damien Salvestre, Luca Staeheli, Braden Shick and Fons Van Sambeek all advanced to Tuesday.
Shick’s win over Alexander Kotzen (4-6, 6-7) was one of the most impressive of the day, according to James.
“Good steps for Braden there to get that win,” James said. “Probably a confidence builder. He’s made a big jump in his game.”
A win on Tuesday by the NC State players qualifies them for the main draw.
“Our hope is we will have one or more guys go pretty deep,” James said. “It’s sort of stage one of the tournament and if you want to advance you want to get the first one out the way.”
Doubles also start on Tuesday. Catry and Van Sambeek will be the only Wolfpack duo to team up. Shick and Staeheli will be playing with random partners.
NC State is one week removed from the ITA regionals in Cary. James said the team is in the “playing block” of their fall season. It seems the team took some momentum from the event in Cary.
“This is the third or fourth tournament for most of these guys,” James said. “I think they get sharper in the matches. What I’m seeing is a little more consistency in their performance, which is good.”
DAY TWO MATCHUPS
FONS VAN SAMBEEK vs. JAKOB SCHNAITTER
DAMIEN SALVESTRE vs. EVAN BYNOE
LUCA STAEHELI vs. JAMES STORY
ROBIN CATRY vs. ISHAAN RAVICHANDER
BRADEN SHICK vs. SID DONARSKI
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