Cardinals Kick Off Season with Doubleheader

The University of Louisville men’s tennis team is set to kick off their season with a doubleheader at home on Wednesday. The Cardinals will face off against Xavier at 12 p.m. and then take on Bellarmine at 5 p.m. at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

This season, the Cardinals will play a total of 16 matches at home. The team’s roster is a mix of both experienced players and newcomers. Returning doubles All-American Natan Rodrigues and ranked singles player Etienne Donnet will provide a strong foundation for the team. Will Mayew and Matthew Fung, both ranked in the ITA Singles Top 60, along with Andre’ Steinbach, will also be returning for the Cardinals.

The team has also added six new freshmen to their roster, including Miguel Avendaño, Evan Duggal, Russell Lokko, Kosuke Nakanishi, Piet Steveker, and Enrique Peña. Peña, who joined the team mid-year, just arrived in Louisville in January.

In the first match of the doubleheader, the Cardinals will face off against Xavier. Louisville currently holds a 22-0 lead in the series record against Xavier. The last meeting between the two teams was on February 26, 2022, where Louisville came out on top with a 4-0 victory at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. Xavier opened their season with a narrow 4-3 loss to Eastern Kentucky and finished last season with a 12-9 record.

The second match of the day will be against Bellarmine. Louisville currently holds a 23-0 lead in the series record against Bellarmine. The last meeting between the two teams was on January 18, 2023, with Louisville securing a 6-1 victory at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. Bellarmine will be opening their season against the Cardinals before hosting UIC on Friday. Last season, the Knights finished with a 14-10 overall record and fell in the ASUN tournament quarterfinals to Kennesaw State.

The University of Louisville men’s tennis team is eager to kick off their season with these home matches and showcase the talent and depth of their roster. With a strong mix of experienced players and promising newcomers, the Cardinals are primed for success in the upcoming season.