St. Peter, Minn. – Gustavus men’s tennis players Motasem Al-Houni (Tripoli, Libya) and Andres Saenz (Cancun, Mexico) will compete in the 2014 USTA/ITA National Small College Championships being held at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina The tournament began yesterday with four play-in matches and will run through Sunday. Participants earned their spots into the tournament by winning their respective USTA/ITA Regional Championships, held over the past four weeks throughout the country, or made the draw by receiving an at-large bid. Al-Houni won the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional singles title held at Gustavus on Sept. 19-21 and Al-Houni and Saenz won the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional doubles title.
Al-Houni will enter the tournament unseeded and will face second-seeded Michael Buxbaum of Johns Hopkins in his first round singles match today at 10:30 a.m. (EST). In doubles, Al-Houni and Saenz received the fourth seed and will face unseeded Ben Foran and Matt Heinrich of Stevens Institute of Technology today at 3 p.m. (EST).
About the Palmetto Tennis Center
The Palmetto Tennis Center is located inside Palmetto Park in Sumter, South Carolina, and is home to 24 state-of-the-art tennis courts, with lighting available for night play. Three on-site tennis pros and a progressive training program teach players from beginner to advanced levels spanning from players aged five and older. Other amenities include ball machines, stringing service, and a pro shop. Admission for regular play is free of charge. Visit the Palmetto Tennis Center website and follow tournament updates on their Facebook page.
About the ITA
As the governing body of collegiate tennis, the ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, which is comprised of nearly 1,700 men’s and women’s varsity coaches representing over 1,200 institutions, administers numerous regional and national championships and the ITA College Tennis Rankings for over 20,000 college varsity student-athletes at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior College levels. The ITA also has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership and sportsmanship. Learn more on their official website, itatennis.com.