Kutztown has enjoyed a nice run of success winning the NCAA Division Atlantic Regional #2 and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second straight season. This season's team will be out to raise the bar and add to the KU men's tennis teams' tradition of excellence. The Golden Bears started their 2011 spring season with a 7-0 loss to Division I Cornell on Feb. 26. This week, they will play four matches in Hilton Head (South Carolina).

   
The Golden Bears (2-1 overall) will battle Malone (Ohio), Wingate, Limestone and Charleston in South Carolina starting Wednesday, Mar. 9. Returning from last season's team are Kaushik Das (Guwahati, Assam/National Open School), Cameron O'Donnell (Allentown, PA/Parkland), Arijit Goswami (Kolkata, India/LSA Kolkata), Tim Roenning (Hole, Norway/Norwegian College of Top Athletes) and Darren Krout (Gordonville, PA/Pequea Valley).  

 
“Cameron and Darren have worked very hard in the off season to get into better shape physically,” Ramamurthi said. “They are much stronger and more confident than last year.  Kaushik and Arijit will contribute as usual and with each match, they will prove to be competitive.” 

 
O'Donnell was the PSAC Freshman of the Year. Goswami was the most outstanding player of the PSAC postseason tournament. Goswami and O'Donnell along with Das, gives Kutztown a formidable trio at the top of the lineup. O'Donnell stepped right into the Golden Bears lineup and made an immediate impact, specifically in No. 3 doubles with an 11-4 record. O'Donnell proved he has what it takes on the courts with a 6-2 record at the fourth singles.

 
Juan Gutierrez (San Jose, Costa Rica/SEK International School), Rushi Amin (Orefield, PA/Lake Brantley), Andrew Zhu (Toronto, ON/Northview), Bilawal Suri (Kolkata, India/Calcutta International), Arjun Arora (New Dehli, India/G.D. Goenka Public School), Parth Girme (Pune, India/B.M.C.C.), and Brian Schakleford are newcomers that should contribute during the season. Zhu and O'Donnell advanced to the PSAC quarterfinals during the individual championships in the fall.

 
“We have many freshmen this year and they are all working extremely hard to contribute and deliver major wins for us,” Ramamurthi said. “I am very impressed with each and every one of them.  We are working every day on our fitness and strength to add to their immense talent. It is going to be a fun and encouraging season.” 

 
The biggest challenge this season, aside from Bloomsburg, will be to make another deep run in the NCAA tournament. The Atlantic Region lost one of its two spots in the Sweet 16. The Golden Bears will have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves beginning this week.

 
Wingate (4-2) has won three straight matches. Limestone (4-4) qualified for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional last season. Limestone was also ranked 35th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Division II top 50 poll. Charleston was ranked fifth in the ITA Atlantic Region poll.

 
Kutztown's home opener for the spring will be Friday, Mar. 18 when it competes against Eastern University at 3:30 p.m. The Golden Bears start conference play when they host East Stroudsburg on Thursday, Mar. 31 at 3:30 p.m.

 
“Having the NCAA draw reduced and losing one bid in our region is going to be very tough,” Ramamurthi said.  “I am confident that our players will tough it out as in the past to overcome the tough competition in our region.  Since only one team from our region will make the Sweet 16 nationals, our players are very determined and enthusiastic to prove themselves.” 

 

--KU--