Hatters Open ASUN Play on Thursday

Stetson men's tennis opens Atlantic Sun Conference play on Thursday when the Hatters host defending ASUN regular-season champion FGCU at 6 p.m. at Mandy Stoll Tennis Center.

Thursday's match will also serve as International Students Day. Students from Stetson's international community will be recognized and free pizza will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Stetson head coach Christophe Noblet is looking forward to the start of the conference season.

"I like our chances on paper at this point," he said. "Our freshmen will have to show they know how to handle pressure, and the upperclassmen will have to show leadership and embrace that role. We have confidence, but there's a lot of uncertainty and challenges as well."

The Hatters (10-3 overall) have won seven consecutive matches entering conference play. Their last loss came on Feb. 19 at Georgia Southern, a 4-0 setback in which Noblet said his team was "out-competed." So what changed?

"We had a long talk about how this isn't what we want to be," Noblet said. "Everybody began to realize, 'I can do a little bit more'. They realized it quick enough to make a change. All of the best teams at some point realize they can do better. I think we're finding our way through that journey and it's exciting to see what's coming next."

Junior Loic Blanco has provided the Hatters with incredible production at the top of the lineup so far this spring. Blanco has been nearly perfect for the Hatters over the last month, winning seven of eight singles matches and teaming with Colter DeCoste to post a 5-2 record in completed matches.

"Loic can compete against anybody in the country," Noblet said. "He certainly believes that. Graham (Ball) has proven the same thing at No. 2."

But Blanco and Ball aren't the only Hatters playing well of late. Freshmen Angus Bradshaw (No. 3) and William Shkrob (No. 4) have gone a combined 11-1 in singles this year.

"The reason we had a nationally ranked recruiting class was because those guys are talented," Noblet said. "But talent by itself doesn't always translate to success. What they have embraced is discipline on a daily basis. If they add hard work to their talent, they're going to win a lot of matches for sure."

FGCU (4-8) has lost three straight matches entering Thursday's contest. The Eagles were undefeated (6-0) in conference play last season and posted an overall record of 16-5.

Thursday's match -- and all home contests -- are free and open to the public.

--SU--

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Loic Blanco: 6' 3"; Junior

Angus Bradshaw: 6' 0"; Freshman

Colter DeCoste: 6' 7"; Freshman

William Shkrob: 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Loic Blanco
: 6' 3"; Junior

Angus Bradshaw
: 6' 0"; Freshman

Colter DeCoste
: 6' 7"; Freshman

William Shkrob
: 6' 0"; Freshman

Stetson University Athletics

Scoreboard

Tickets, donate, shop

Hatters Open ASUN Play on Thursday

Players Mentioned

Loic Blanco

Angus Bradshaw

Colter DeCoste

William Shkrob

Players Mentioned

Loic Blanco

Angus Bradshaw

Colter DeCoste

William Shkrob