The Oregon men’s tennis team is tired of spending its weekends away from Eugene, but it wants to gain more experience with outside competition before the dual meet season begins.
Enter the Duck Classic.
This weekend the Ducks will host their first tennis event of the 2002-03 season and the same goals still apply.
“We just want to get as many matches in as possible,” men’s head coach Chris Russell said. “It’s all about getting better.”
The Duck Classic is different from the tournaments the men played in October. It is a round robin tournament that does not crown a champion. The team with the most victories is considered the winner.
Last year, the Ducks led the way with 17 wins (15 singles and two doubles). Second-place Boise State will be returning to Eugene along with Nebraska and Portland.
Jason Menke led the Ducks with four singles wins and a doubles win last season. He was closely followed by Chris King and Kyle Halberg with three and two wins, respectively. The Ducks will also be looking to showcase freshmen Thomas Bieri, Junaid Hossain, Arron Spencer and Andrew Walker.
“Our young guys are going to have to step up for us this year,” Russell said. “It is good for them to get this experience now.”
Boise State’s Marcus Berntson will look to improve on his three singles and three doubles wins from a year ago. Berntson will be joined by Duck Classic veterans and teammates Mahmoud Rezik and Beck Roghar. Rezik finished last year with three singles wins and two doubles wins while Roghar managed one singles victory.
The lone Nebraska Cornhusker returning to Eugene with any Duck Classic experience is junior Jose Hernan.
The Duck Classic will be held at the Student Tennis Center all weekend.