The Presbyterian Blue Hose (8-5) travel to Greenville, South Carolina, to play the Furman Paladins (6-11) on Tuesday, March 31, at 3 p.m.
A LOOK AT THE BLUE HOSE
Presbyterian coach
Juan Pablo Boada is in his second season at the helm of the program. Presbyterian returned three letterwinners: senior
David Mamalat and sophomores
Daksh Prasad and
Eduardo Valentin. Joining those three returners are newcomers junior
Matija Samardzic, sophomore
Gabriel Godoy, and freshmen
Thomas Anderson,
Victor Mayer, and
Dario Navarro. This fall, Mamalat and Samardzic captured the doubles title at the Big South Individual Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the ITA Conference Masters Championship. Every Blue Hose posted singles and doubles wins during the fall's tournament season.
This spring, Samardzic leads the team with nine singles wins. Mamalat, and Prasad have collected eight wins apiece. Navarro and Valentin have each recorded six wins. The doubles tandem of Mamalat and Samardzic has picked up a team-leading 11 wins, including ten straight victories, all at number one doubles.
LAST TIME OUT
Presbyterian blanked Campbell, 7-0, on the road this past Saturday. The Blue Hose captured the doubles point and won all six singles matches in straight sets.
BIG SOUTH WEEKLY HONORS
On February 25, Navarro was named the Big South Conference Freshman of the Week. Navarro was the 20
th player in the program's history to earn the Big South Freshman of the Week award. Navarro played an integral role in helping the Blue Hose beat Wofford, 4-3, on the road on February 17. At number two doubles, he teamed with Anderson to post a 6-4 win, which clinched the doubles point for the Blue Hose. Then, he clinched the overall victory for the Blue Hose with PC's fourth win of the match with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at number five singles.
On March 4, Samardiz was named Big South Conference Player of the Week. Samardzic was the 18th player in the program's history to earn the Big South Freshman of the Week award. He won both his singles and doubles matches in helping the Blue Hose pick up a 4-3 road win at Chattanooga. He teamed with Mamalat for a 6-1 win at number one doubles, helping the Blue Hose capture the doubles point. Then, he recorded a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 win at number three singles.
BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
Presbyterian was picked to finish third in the preseason Big South coaches poll. Longwood was picked to win the Big South title in the preseason poll.
In Presbyterian's men's tennis program's history, the Blue Hose have captured three Big South regular-season titles (2014, 2017, and 2023) and three Big South Tournament titles (2017, 2021, and 2023).
SCOUTING FURMAN
Tuesday's match will be the 36th meeting between Presbyterian and Furman, with Furman leading the all-time series 26-9. Furman beat PC, 4-3, at home in their last matchup, February 9, 2022. Evan Duggal leads the Paladins with seven singles wins playing at number three and four singles.