Oct. 2, 2008
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University men's tennis team begins its fall season this weekend, co-hosting the GU/EWU Classic on the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash. Play begins Friday morning and will run all day Saturday and Sunday with selective consolation matches played at Whitworth College.
The Classic features various schools from throughout the Northwest including the Big Sky Conference champion and NCAA tournament participant EWU, University of Idaho, the West Coast Conference's University of Portland, the University of Montana, Portland State University and Seattle University.
"This first weekend gives us to get out and match up against some quality outside competition. We have a solid group of returners that accomplished some good things last year and we welcome one of the best recruiting classes our program has ever had," said fourth-year head coach Peter MacDonald.
The Bulldogs return three players that received All-West Coast Conference honors from a year ago with Stefan Feddersen and Mike Merz as the lone seniors on this year's squad. Feddersen and junior Roman Dojcak both return after earning All-WCC honorable mention singles honors last season. Sophomore Conor Feeney also returns after earning All-WCC honorable mention in Doubles.
Four freshmen will make their collegiate debuts this weekend for the Zags. Tomasz Falkowski heads the class, the Bydgoszcz, Poland native has been one of Poland's top ranked players, earning a # 11 ranking in the Under 18 grouping a couple summers ago. Tyler Campbell, Jake Davis and Scott Sullivan have all arrived on campus will accomplished tennis backgrounds and will be looking to make impacts for the Bulldogs this season.
"This year's recruiting class has brought a different level of intensity and passion to our team. Our young players have impressed us early and will provide this team with a great deal of depth this season," said MacDonald.
The Bulldogs will play in just one other fall tournament, the ITA Regionals, held in Berkley, Calif. Oct. 17-21.
