NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers men’s tennis team begins their 2024 campaign with a pair of matches this week. The Privateers will travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Wednesday before returning to the Privateer Tennis Center for a match against Southern on Friday at 1 p.m.
The Privateers are coming off a season where they won their first outright regular season title in program history but it’s a team that had to replace a lot off last year’s squad. The Privateers lost their top four student-athletes in wins to either graduation or the transfer portal.
However, there is strong experience returning to the ’24 team. Luke Joujan was an All-Southland member and went undefeated in regular season conference matches (11-5 overall). Marcel Volz missed most of last season with injury but has been a Southland Player of the Year and has put forth some strong performances in tournaments over the past several months.
Also returning off solid fall seasons are Matthew Armbruster and David Tesic. The Privateers will also have five newcomers (all freshmen) who will be making their spring debuts.
Southern has already played a match this season, which was a loss to South Alabama. The Jaguars just brought back tennis ahead of this season after winning 12 SWAC championships between 1979 and 2008.
LSU was 14-11 overall and 4-8 in SEC play last season. The Tigers scored two wins against nationally ranked opponents in Arkansas and Tulane. Chen Dong and Julien Penzlin were the 49th ranked doubles team in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association at the end of the fall season.
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For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation’s biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
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