On Friday, the No. 55-ranked ETSU men’s tennis team came into the Southern Conference Tournament as the No. 1-seed, and they showed why.

The Bucs ended their regular season with a 15-5 overall record and a 7-0 record in conference play. They finished the regular season with a 12-match win streak. 

To start off singles, junior David Biosca (Sant Fruitos de Bage, Spain), who is ranked No. 76 and was named to the All-SoCon First Team in singles, won the first set, 6-2, and the second set, 6-0, over The Citadel’s Nicholas Bradley (Waldwick, N.J).

Biosca is 16-4 on the season in singles and is on a 10-match win streak. He also earned SoCon Player of the Year honors.

All-SoCon First Team senior Regerio Riberio (Sao Paulo, Brazil) won both sets, 6-3 and 6-0, over The Citadel’s Artemie Amari (New York, N.Y.). Riberio is currently on a eight-match win streak in singles.

Junior Diego Nunez (Monterrey, Mexico) beat The Citadel’s Matthew Henson (Bristol, Tenn.), winning both sets, 6-2 and 4-3. Nunez is currently on a three-match win streak.

All-SoCon First Team sophomore Robert Herrera (Barcelona, Spain) dominated his first set, 6-0, and was able to keep up his momentum, winning the second set, 6-0, over The Citadel’s Jackson Pride (Charleston, S.C.). 

Biosca and Ribeiro were able to tie The Citadel’s Amari and Henson in the first set, 3-3. However, the second set was unfinished.

Named to the All-SoCon First Team in doubles, Nunez and Herrera dominated in their doubles match, winning 6-1 over The Citadel’s Bradley and Michael Anzalone (Queens, N.Y.).

“Credit goes to ETSU for being locked in and staying locked in,” said The Citadel coach Chuck Kriese.

Ismael Merino (Lima, Peru) and Sebastian Yllera (Cinco Saltos, Argentina) finished with a win in their doubles match, beating The Citadel’s Pride and Connor Grady (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.), 6-2. They continue their undefeated 7-0 record in doubles. 

The Bucs beat The Citadel, 4-0, on Friday to advance to the semifinals in the SoCon Tournament. The win gave the Bucs their 13th-straight win, improving their record to 16-5 this season.

ETSU coach Yaser Zaatini earned SoCon Coach of the Year honors.

“I’m proud beyond words of these guys,” Zaatini said. “The way they defend the ETSU colors and brand is quite impressive. Helping our school achieve a 14th-straight year with a championship in either the regular season or conference tournament, they have definitely left their mark.”

Author

  • Edwin Nelson

    Edwin Nelson is a Sophomore from Chattanooga who moved to Johnson City to pursue a journalism degree at ETSU. His passion for writing about sports — especially basketball — is what led him to choose journalism as a major and join the East Tennessean staff. When he’s not watching the Bucs play, he’s watching his favorite professional basketball team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

    View all posts