Bulldogs open spring season this weekend at Dartmouth

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In the quest for its third-straight Northeast Conference Championship and NCAA appearance, the Bryant University men's tennis team kicks off the spring season over the weekend at Dartmouth College.

The Bulldogs return a number of key players from the 2014-15 championship team, including sophomore Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.) who put together one of the best rookie campaigns in Bryant tennis history, achieving NEC Rookie of the Year. The Smithfield native finished last year with an 18-9 overall record, including 9-6 tally at the No.1 singles spot.

Senior Max Vogt (Fair Oaks, Calif.) returns to the lineup, after finishing 5-2 at the No. 5 singles spot in conference play in route to All-NEC Second Team honors. Vogt, partnered with sophomore Luke Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo.), earned All-NEC First Team honors at the No. 3 doubles slot. Junior Oliver Welsh (San Diego, Calif.) returns as a major threat after finishing last year at 17-15 in singles play, receiving All-NEC First Team honors. Sophomore Jorge Ortiz-Garcia (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) came on late last year in the No. 6 singles spot, going 2-0 at the NEC Championships which led him to earn First Team All-NEC honors.

"We graduated a very vocal leader but have two senior captains in seniors Richard Sipala (Quogue, N.Y.) and Vogt who seem to have changed the dynamic of the team," said head coach Ron Gendron. "The new dynamic has a quiet confidence".

In addition to the skill returning to the roster, the Black and Gold welcomed four freshman, who all proved to be assets during the fall season. Michael Plutt (Weston, Fla.) went 3-1 in singles play, while twin Scott Plutt (Weston, Fla.) finished 5-1 in his opening semester of collegiate play. Classmate Artur Jakubowski (Dallas, Texas) shows promise for the Bulldogs, tallying a 3-2 singles finish in the fall and 2-1 in doubles with partner Josh Kliger (Newport Beach, Calif.).

"Every season is different because every team is different," said Gendron. "This team has the ideal blend of returning and new talent. Freshmen Michael, Scott and Artur are clearly going to make an impact on our roster."

The Bulldogs will be put to the test this season, hitting the road to take on a trio of opponents at Turning Stone in Verona, N.Y., followed by South Carolina and North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. The Black and Gold will also face three Ivy League competitors before heading to California for the La Jolla Invitational to wrap up nonconference play.

"We are looking forward to the challenges of Dartmouth, Buffalo, Marist, North Carolina and South Carolina," said Gendron.

Bryant begins NEC play by hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, March 26 and continues its three-game home stretch with Quinnipiac and Boston University at the start of April. The slate includes both nonleague and league matches throughout April, before giving way to the NEC Tournament, beginning on Friday, April 22, from Windsor, N.J.

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