SDSU Men's Tennis Opens Spring Slate

BROOKINGS, S.D.—The South Dakota State men's tennis team opens its 2016 spring season this weekend when it meets DePaul and Minnesota in dual matches at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. First serve vs. the Blue Demons is 7 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. vs. the Gophers Saturday.

"I know the guys are eager to get on the court and get the season started. I couldn't be happier with the way everyone came back from break in shape and ready to go," sixth-year head coach Michael Engdahl said. "We have a tough stretch of matches first three weeks against some elite teams but we wouldn't want it any other way. Everyone knows the challenge they have in front of them and we are excited to go toe-to-toe with some of the top teams in college tennis. There isn't a better way to kick off the 2016 season."

SDSU, picked third in The Summit League poll, will have three new players in the starting lineup. Engdahl returns senior Lovro Curcija, who is expected to move from No. 4 singles to No. 1, two-time all-league pick senior Henrique Pereira returns at No. 2 and senior Mateus Moreira is back at No. 5.

Looking to fill out the lineup are juniors Jonny Higham and Lucas Pereira, sophomores Stefano Blatt and Marco Paulo Castro and freshmen Emerson Styles, Chuck Tang and Elliot Ward.

DePaul returns its entire lineup from last year after finishing 12-12 overall and 3-2 in the Big East.

Minnesota, the 2015 Big Ten champions, return three starters in senior Ruben Weber and sophomores Matic Spec and Felix Corwin. The Gophers were 21-8 overall, including 12-0 at home, and 10-1 in the Big Ten Conference last year.

It will be the first meeting between SDSU and DePaul and the second with Minnesota. The Jackrabbits lost 7-0 to the Gophers in the season opener last year.

Live stats for the two matches are available here.

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Stefano Blatt

Marco Paulo Castro

Lovro Curcija

Jonny Higham

Mateus Moreira

Henrique Pereira

Completed Event: Men's Tennis versus Denver on April 22, 2018 , Loss , 0, to, 7

Completed Event: Men's Tennis versus Oral Roberts on April 21, 2018 , Loss , 2, to, 5

Completed Event: Men's Tennis at Augustana on April 20, 2018 , Win , 5, to, 2

Completed Event: Men's Tennis at Omaha on April 15, 2018 , Loss , 2, to, 5

Completed Event: Men's Tennis versus Illinois State on April 7, 2018 , Loss , 0, to, 7

Completed Event: Men's Tennis at Valparaiso on April 6, 2018 , Loss , 2, to, 5

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