LAKELAND, Fla. – Head coach
Rhett Rollyson will begin his second season with the Florida Southern College men's tennis team, which opens the 2024 season on Wednesday at No. 3 Saint Leo University. The Mocs will have a few road matches before Thursday, Feb. 22 home opener against Bates College at the Wynee Warden Tennis Center.
2024 Season Opener
Opponent: No. 3 Saint Leo University
Location: Saint Leo Tennis Center | Saint Leo, Fla.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m.
Home Opener: Thursday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m.
Florida Southern, who is receiving votes in the Preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II poll, has 22 matches, 14 at home, in the 2024 campaign. The Mocs built off an impressive inaugural season with Rollyson, with the Mocs just short of an NCAA regional berth. FSC finished 2023 with a 15-9 overall record, the most wins since 2011, highlighted by a win over No. 4 Flagler College. The 2024 season will feature 11 teams in the ITA top-25, including No. 2 Barry, No. 3 Saint Leo, and a callback with No. 4 Flagler.
"Our schedule is not for the faint of heart," shared Rollyson on the 2024 slate. "We are playing some of the nation's best opponents, so we will be tested. In order to advance to regionals, you must get some quality wins and we embrace that opportunity. We had great performances in our exhibition matches against the University of South Florida and Gustavus Adolphus and we are excited to start our season this week."
The 2024 Team
Rollyson will lead a stacked roster in the spring 2024 season that includes all three of 2023's All-SSC players, a talented Division I transfer, and six incoming freshmen. In total, FSC has 10 returning from last year's spring team with a surplus of collegiate experience and many from last year's starting lineups.
Returners
A captain of the team and returning All-SSC First Team (Doubles) winner,
Chris Fok Kow had a great fall schedule that was preceded by representing his country of Mauritius in the 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games. Last season, Fok Kow was paired with fellow returner
Matteo Feggi to earn the All-SSC First Team honors at the No. 1 court and top 10 ranking for ITA doubles. They combined for a 17-7 record together while Fok Kow went on to win 12 matches at the No. 1 court for singles and Feggi a 7-4 record himself at the No. 5 and 6 courts.
The reigning SSC Men's Tennis Freshman of the Year
Mario Garoz is back for another year with the Mocs after last year's impressive 19-4 record. Garoz had six wins in conference play and will continue to hold down the middle of the singles lineup this coming year. Other key returners in the singles category include
Inaki Braun Simo and
Elliott Altman who had a combined 28 wins, with Braun Simo winning 15 and Altman 13 flights.
In doubles,
Ryan Rajakar hopes to continue his big impact in securing the key first point in the matches this season. Last season Ryan paired with Garoz at the No. 2 court with 12 wins during that span. With other doubles returners in Garoz, Feggi, and Fok Kow, FSC will look to build from last year's 15 doubles point victories as a key to winning big matches. On the importance of the doubles point this season, Rollyson said, "We will continue to push for a doubles win and I feel we have put together the right roster to get that done. The doubles point sets the momentum and drive for the singles competition, and we look to build from that this season."
FSC also returns
Lukas Bonfante, Reese Hilsen, Luke Lau, and
Edoardo Melindo from last year's team.
Newcomers
With seven newcomers to the FSC team, Rollyson has added depth to the program that he feels will propel the team to success in difficult and grueling weeks of multiple matches. Leading the charge after a round of 16 appearance at the ITA Regional Championships is a transfer from the University of Montana,
George Russell. A Lymington, England native, Russell joined the Mocs in the fall and made an immediate impact to soar to a great showing at ITA's and the SLU Hidden Duals. Russell adds the experience and skill that mesh perfectly with the existing group of FSC returners.
This season's freshman class begins with
Bosko Boskovic from Toronto, Ontario,
Matthew Hewitt and
Hunter Nussbaum from Tampa, Fla.,
Tanner Simpson from Lakeland, and
Jaden Thompson from Dover, Fla. The final international incomer is
Gabriel Jornert from Sweden. Despite the limited fall experience, many add significant depth to the team for a busy spring schedule.
On the quality of athletes on this season's roster, Rollyson said, "We have a great mix of veterans and student-athletes on this year's team. Each of our guys returning has great experience and added so much to last year's team. I feel we added all the pieces to build a championship-caliber team and compete for NCAA regionals. We have a difficult schedule that we created to face as many top-ranked teams as possible and give us a good opportunity to get quality wins. We are excited to get the season going and display our talent in front of a great home crowd."
2024 Home Schedule
Feb. 22 – Bates College, 3:00 p.m.
Feb. 25 – University of Findlay, 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 26 – Washburn University, 3:00 p.m.
Feb. 29 – Michigan Technological University, 3:00 p.m.
March 2 – Southern New Hampshire University, 11:00 a.m.
March 4 – Wingate University, 3:00 p.m.
March 9 – Thomas Jefferson University, 12:00 p.m.
March 12 – Mississippi College, 3:00 p.m.
March 13 – Auburn University Montgomery, 3:00 p.m.
March 14 – University of Indianapolis, 3:00 p.m.
March 16 - University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, 12:00 p.m.
March 30 – Embry-Riddle University (SSC), 12:00 p.m.
April 6 – Lynn University (SSC), 2:00 p.m.
April 9 – Eckerd College (SSC), 3:00 p.m.
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