Due West, S.C. – This Saturday will mark the 45th opening day for Erskine Head Men's Tennis Coach Vardon Cox as the Erskine Flying Fleet travel to play the University of North Georgia. 

With four returning starters and the addition of two impact players, Coach Cox's team is ready to improve on last year's mark of 8-14 overall and 5-5 in conference.  In the conference's preseason coaches poll, the Flying Fleet were voted to finish fourth and garnered one first place vote.  Limestone, last season's conference tournament champion, was picked to win the conference title while the University of Mount Olive voted to finish second.

The Flying Fleet return four of their top six players from last season plus Coach Cox added four new players.  Senior Jack West (Belton, SC, Emerald High School)is the Fleet's top returner, having played #1 singles and doubles.  Unfortunately, West suffered a broken hand this off-season and will miss the first few weeks.  Junior Wilson Mathewes (Greenville, SC, Mauldin High School) earned 2^nd Team All-Conference honors last season playing from his #2 singles and #1 doubles position and will again be one of the Fleet's top players.  Sophomore Alan Pearce (Greenville, SC, Mauldin High School) seeks to build upon a successful freshman year that saw him go 7-3 in conference at #4 singles.  Junior Robert Clarke (Due West, SC, Belton-Honea Path High School) returns for his third season.  Clarke had to play in the #5 singles slot due to a season-ending injury to senior James Hoatson.  This season he should return to his customary #6 spot, where he is much more competitive.  Junior Coleman Welch (Belton, SC, Belton-Honea Path High School), who took last season off to concentrate on his pre-medicine studies, rejoins the team this season as well.

Two of the four new players are expected to make an immediate impact for Coach Cox.  Freshman Andre Andre (Setubal, Portugal) is a tall, gifted player and is expected to fill one of the top two positions.  Jason Harris (Benoni, South Africa, Christian Brothers College), who transferred to Erskine after a successful freshman season at Northwest Missouri State University, will also step in right away.  Freshmen Yonelvin Gutierrez (Boston, MA, Mauldin High School) andEric Edwards (Inman, SC, Chapman High School) had solid high school careers and may see some time this year as well.

The Flying Fleet play their first six matches on the road to start the season, starting with the University of North Georgia on Saturday.  The Fleet's home opener is not until February 26^th against the University of South Carolina – Aiken.

Schedule

Roster