The Buccaneer men’s tennis team clinched the Southern Conference regular season title with a 6-1 win in their match against the Wofford Terriers on Senior Day in a Friday contest at ETSU.
The Bucs picked up their 15th straight win and are now 17-3 overall and 10-0 in SoCon play.
This is the second consecutive season the Bucs have finished the regular season with a perfect record to clinch the SoCon title. With the loss, the Terriers fall to 5-3, 7-13.
In his three years as head coach, Yaser Zaatini has led his team each year to a regular season title.
“It’s not too shabby,” said Zaatini on this achievement. “It’s a great feeling to be able to complete the season on this mark. It’s a privilege to coach a group of guys who have an understanding of how to compete in this league and they come out and give their heart at every match.”
ETSU started the match against Wofford by garnering the doubles point with a sweep of all three slots.
Moiss Serrano and Sebastian Serrano defeated Alex Fridzon and Michael Barber 8-3 at the No. 3 slot to start things for the Bucs. Then Oscar Posada and Fernando Fiuri picked up a win at No. 1 against Andrew Stubbs and Chris Barlow (8-6) just before Lisandro Picardo and Daniel Escobedo finished their battle at No. 2. Picardo and Escobedo won the match against Jeff Muthig and Brett Johnson 9-7.
In singles action, ETSU picked up five wins in straight sets to win the match. Escobedo quickly finished his match at No. 6 over Barber 6-0, 6-2 to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead. Posada then added to that tally with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Stubbs at the No. 1 slot, while S. Serrano clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alec Wilson.
The Bucs would then add two more wins from Picardo at No. 4 and M. Serrano at No. 3 before the Terriers’ Johnson would score their lone point at No. 2 over Fiuri.
Also competing for the Bucs in an exhibition match, senior Federico Ochoa defeated Wofford’s Richard Cahi 6-0.
Ochoa along with M. Serrano and team captain Fiuri were recognized for their dedication to the team during their careers before the match.
“Seniors always pave the way for the incoming players,” said Zaatini. “This year’s seniors are a solid group of guys and they made it an easy road for the newcomers and it has been a privilege to have them as part of the team.”
Up next for the Bucs is the SoCon Tournament in Charleston, S.C., which begins on April 21.
As the No. 1 seed in the tournament they have a first round bye and will face their first opponent the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 on Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m.
Women’s Tennis
The ETSU women’s tennis team concluded their regular season with a 7-0 win over the Wofford Terriers on Saturday afternoon at the ETSU tennis courts.
The Bucs improve to 18-6 overall, 8-2 in the SoCon, while the Terriers drop to 7-11, 3-6.
“I’m glad we won another SoCon match 7-0,” said Coach Steve Brooks. “Wofford is a really good team and I didn’t expect us to win the match 7-0.”
Action opened with the doubles point being awarded to ETSU.
At No. 1, Masha Ilina and Sylwia Ziolkowska defeated Ellen Rogers and Sarah Shelley with an 8-6 final decision.
Then Sandie Knight and Elena Volobueva finished at No. 2 with a 8-4 win over Laura Lynn Williams and Delaine Hare to capture the point for the Bucs.
In singles action, the Bucs took all six points with wins in straight sets. Knight clinched the game winner for the Bucs with her win at the No. 1 slot over Rogers 6-3, 6-1.
At No. 6, senior and team captain Halim picked up her 60th career singles win during her last home match of her career as a Buccaneer.
At No. 6, senior and team captain Halim picked up her 60th career singles win during her last home match of her career as a Buccaneer. With the win, she ranks tied for seventh on ETSU’s career singles wins.

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