Men's Tennis Readies for Another Three-Match Weekend

NEW ORLEANS - The third weekend of play for the Privateers men's tennis team offers another set of three matches. New Orleans will travel to Alcorn State and Jackson State on Friday and Saturday before coming home for their first home match of the spring against UTSA on Sunday.
 
New Orleans has participated in two tournaments: the Florida State Spring Invitational and the Jerry Simmons Invitational. In both tournaments, the Privateers went 1-2 and wound up with a sixth place finish.
 
"We're looking at every match as a challenge," said Coach Burzis Kanga. "I think we're hitting the ball well. We've played in some tough matches and I feel that we're moving forward. None of these matches are going to be easy and we'll have to play one match at a time."
 
Samuel Armand and Nicolas Kramer both have two singles wins to co-lead the team through the first two tournaments. Kramer picked up the deciding point in the Privateers' win over defending Southland tournament champion, Lamar. Armand had a victory each at flight five and six singles.
 
In doubles, Armand has paired with Johannes Klein for two wins. The tandem won both of their doubles bouts at flight three. Last week, they won four straight games to get a doubles win against Louisiana. It was their second meeting against the Cajuns.
 
The Privateers have never lost against their first two opponents this weekend in 25 career meetings since 1996. New Orleans has vanquished Alcorn State 10 times and defeated Jackson State 15 times. New Orleans has also had a measure of success against UTSA in that span, going 5-2 vs. the Roadrunners.
 
"I think we're a really talented team and with the right mindset we're capable of playing with anyone," said Kanga. "The players have a very good attitude and I like the way we've been practicing leading up to this weekend."
 
Alcorn State has started the year off at 0-5. They have been swept in four of those matches and only won one point: that was in their season opener against Louisiana. Jonathan Parat scored the point with a win at flight two singles.
 
Jackson State is also winless on the year at 0-7. The Tigers played two matches each against Auburn, Memphis, and Louisiana. Richy Gamo has earned the only point of the season with a singles win at flight five in their first match against the Cajuns.
 
The Roadrunners have had a lighter schedule by comparison to this point. UTSA has competed in two matches and won both against Prairie View A&M. UTSA dropped only one point, which came in the first match at flight one singles.
 
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