DELAND, Fla. - The Stetson Men's Tennis team gears up for their first tournament of the fall season this upcoming weekend. From September 22 to September 24, the Hatters will be in action at the Bedford Cup, hosted by the University of Central Florida. This event will showcase the talent of the top collegiate men's tennis players from across all NCAA Division I programs in Florida.

"We have had a good start of the fall, with three productive weeks of practice so far, and the guys are looking forward to start competing this coming weekend," shared Head Coach Christophe Noblet.

The Bedford Cup, an event with a rich tradition and history, was created with the aim of bringing together the finest tennis talent from the Sunshine State. Organized by the Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) of Florida and funded by the Edward T. Bedford Foundation, this tournament has become a platform for athletes to test their mettle against some of the best in the region. The Stetson team is ready to make their presence felt on the courts during this tournament. With a blend of experienced returners and promising newcomers, they are poised for a dynamic season ahead.

The roster includes key returners such as Ervin Hayes Eminefendic, Lucas Olivier, Sami Ozzor, Juan Jose Rodriguez Garceran, and Marc Saura, all of whom bring their unique skills and competitive spirit to the team. Their experience will undoubtedly provide a strong foundation for the Hatters.

Joining the team this season are newcomers Riccardo Baldi, a talented freshman, and Eder Blanco, a transfer from North Carolina A&T. Tim Gennes will also make a return to the Stetson squad after a year away. These new additions bring fresh energy and skills to the squad, adding depth and versatility to the lineup.

"We are very deep this year. We returned our top 5 starters from last season, and added three qualities players on top of that. This is the kind of competitive environment we want, as we look to go from good to great this season."

Following the Bedford Cup, the Hatters will embark on another exciting journey, heading to Tulsa for the ITA All-American Championship from September 30 to October 8. This prestigious event showcases the crème de la crème of Division I collegiate tennis players, providing an exceptional opportunity for the Stetson team to test their skills against the nation's elite.

After their stint in Tulsa, the team will head back to Orlando, participating in the UCF Invitational from October 6 to October 8. This tournament will provide valuable experience to the players and help them fine-tune their skills for the challenges ahead.

On October 12-15, the Hatters will set their sights on Atlanta for the ITA Regional, hosted by Georgia Tech. This competition will serve as another opportunity for the team to face formidable opponents and make a name for themselves in the region.

The calendar then takes an exciting international twist as the ITF Futures tournaments come into focus. While only a select few players will represent Stetson, from October 23-25, the Hatters will journey to Tallahassee, where Florida State will host an ITF Futures event.

Continuing their journey, the team will return to action in another ITF Futures tournament from November 13-15. Once again, a select group of players will have the honor of representing Stetson, with the prospect of competing against top talent from around the world.

In between these two ITF Futures tournaments, the Hatters will head to Rollins College for the Varner Memorial Florida Cup, taking place from October 27-29.

"We put together a very competitive fall slate, with plenty of challenges ahead. We will face some of the best competition in the southeast, but also the country, when you consider the All-American tournament and ITF Future events," Coach Noblet emphasized.

As the fall season culminates, Stetson Men's Tennis will wrap up their journey and shift their focus to the upcoming regular season. They will return to the court on January 20 when they head to FAU, ready to bring their newfound experiences and sharpened skills to collegiate tennis arenas.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.

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