George Washington University Athletics
GW Men's Tennis Set for NCAA Team Championship
5/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
| 2016 NCAA Team Championship First Round | |
| Date | Bracket | Friday, May 13 | 2 p.m. ET | Bracket |
| Location | George P. Mitchell Tennis Center | College Station, TX |
| Additional Information | Tickets |
| Follow | Live Video | Live Stats |
Update: GW's match will begin at 2 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON -- The George Washington men's tennis squad competes in its third-consecutive NCAA Team Championship on Friday afternoon at 12th-seeded Texas A&M.
The Colonials (14-8) received the Atlantic 10's automatic bid after claiming their third-straight conference crown and fifth title in the last six seasons. GW will face host Texas A&M at 12 p.m. ET at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas, in the single elimination tournament. A win on Friday would result in a Saturday match against the winner of Texas/Lamar in the Second Round.
GW enters the NCAA First Round after a nearly month-long hiatus from competition as the A-10 Championship concluded on April 17.
The Buff and Blue racked up eight postseason conference awards, including interim head coach Torrie Browning's selection as A-10 Coach of the Year. Senior Danil Zelenkov, junior Julius Tverijonas and sophomore Chris Reynolds garnered First Team honors, while senior Cahit Kapukiran and sophomore Chris Fletcher landed on the Second Team. Tverijonas and Zelenkov also received All-Academic nods for their outstanding performances in the classroom.
Reynolds enters Friday leading GW with 20 singles victories on the year and has won seven of his last nine decisions. The sophomore has played at the Nos. 3-5 positions this spring, most recently competing in third-flight action throughout the A-10 Championship.
Zelenkov owns a 19-9 solo record and has won eight of his last 10 singles decisions. On the doubles court, the senior has paired with Tverijonas to form a fearsome duo, compiling a dominating 21-3 mark on the year - including a perfect, 10-0 spring regular-season stretch. The most veteran member of GW's squad, Zelenkov will compete in his third career NCAA Tournament.
Tverijonas also posted a strong singles season, tallying an 18-12 overall mark. The junior brings key experience into Friday's match, as Tverijonas defeated the Aggies' Oscar Janglin in a three-set fall battle at the ITA All-American Championships in October.
Texas A&M (26-9) has been one of the nation's top teams throughout 2016 and enters NCAA play as the No. 12 squad. Arthur Rinderknech is the highest-ranked singles player for the Aggies as the nation's No. 18 competitor. Shane Vinsant carries a No. 52 solo rank into the first round.
Rinerknech leads the Aggies with a 26-11 singles mark, playing primarily at the top spot this spring. Vinsant owns a 22-15 solo mark, serving as Texas A&M's second-flight competitor.
Five different pairs own a national doubles ranking for the Aggies, led by Rinderknech and Jackson Withrow's No. 8 mark. Rinderknech and Visant as a pair sit at No. 52, while Jordi Arconada and Max Lukin are ranked 70th. Vinsant and AJ Catanzariti own a No. 75 rank, and Bakshi and Withrow pair for the nation's No. 89 duo.
Rinderknech and Vinsant will also compete at the NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Championship, while Rinderknech will pair with Withrow at the Doubles Championship.
Fans can follow with first round action with live video and live stats. First serve is slated for 12 p.m. ET.
Players Mentioned
