Bulldogs open spring season Saturday

MEN'S TENNIS HEADS TO NEW YORK FOR MATCHES VS. BUFFALO AND AT COLGATE THIS WEEKEND

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off an impressive fall season, the Bryant University men's tennis team is gearing up for its 2013 spring campaign.

After impressive showings at the Brown Invitational, UConn Invitational and Quinnipiac Invitational earlier this season, the Bulldogs are ready to take on all comers as the embark on one of their most difficult schedules in program history.

"This season has us playing our most challenging schedule to date," said head coach Ron Gendron.

The Black and Gold will open their slate with a pair of quality opponents in Buffalo and Colgate at the end of January, before hitting the road for great matchups with Boston College and Boston University in February. Bryant will also face the likes of Georgetown, Fordham, Villanova and Brown all away from its home court.

The Bulldogs will host eight home matches this season, welcoming Merrimack, Stony Brook, Niagara, Brandeis, Connecticut, and Northeast Conference-foes Fairleigh Dickinson, Wagner and Quinnipiac to Smithfield.

"We set our schedule up like this so come April we will be battle tested and prepared for our first shot at competing for the NEC title," added Gendron.

Bryant returns all of their key contributors from last season including senior Vidith Huot (Providence, R.I.), junior Dana Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C.), and sophomores Zachary Morris (Garden City, N.Y.) and Ernesto Arguello (Managua, Nicaragua).

In addition to an experienced group of veterans, the Bulldogs have added a talented trio of freshmen, Max Vogt (Fair Oaks, Calif.), Phillip Kim (Marina, Calif.) and Guillaume Sabourin (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), who are sure to contribute right away.

In addition to their early success as a team, the Black and Gold have earned some individual recognition as well. Both Hout and Vogt each earned NEC Player of the Month honors for September and October, respectively, as the Bulldogs swept the NEC fall season awards.

"Despite a lot of adversity over the past four seasons, we have stayed motivated during the transition to Division I," said Gendron.  "Our players have proudly honored the black and gold, and our success reflects that hard work."

"Now that the transition period has ended, it is time for our players to be rewarded," stated Gendron, "It's an opportunity to realize what we have worked so hard for; a chance to compete for the postseason!"

The Bulldogs will have just that opportunity over the weekend as they begin their quest with a trip to New York for matches against Buffalo and Colgate.

For all the latest news on Bryant University men's tennis, visit BryantBulldogs.com.