SALEM, W.Va. – With a record-breaking season last year, the Salem University men's tennis team is aiming to reach new heights this season.
 
Last season, Salem finished with 9 wins, which was an improvement from the 2017 season where the Tigers finished with three wins. The nine wins aided the Tigers to their first-ever NCAA Atlantic Region ranking as they finished the season ranked No. 8.
 
"It's not so much about the wins and losses as long as the team is doing well in class and giving 110 percent on the court, and as a result of that their games will improve and we will be able to win more than we lose," stated Tennis Head Coach Todd Tucker. "We really want improvement and get to the 10 win mark."
 
This past fall, four players were ranked in the NCAA Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Atlantic Region rankings.
 
The Tigers return two starters in sophomore Patryk Garwacki and classmate captain Gregor Lainer.
 
Garwacki was the first player in school history to be ranked in singles last season at No. 18 and has jumped this season to No. 9 in singles and for the first time has entered the doubles rankings with team captain sophomore Gregor Lainer grabbing the No. 10 doubles ranking.
 
"Greogor and Patryk are now both sophomores and have a lot more experience, they have been working hard and through our strength coaches at Salem the have gotten stronger as well to help improve their games," said Tucker.
 
Salem brings in new members to the starting squad this season with four looking to make an immediate impact as freshman Illia Peredero, freshman Bartosz Losiak, freshman Andrezej Urjasz and freshman Sibi Junior Sahmaoro.
 
Losiak placed No. 14 in the rankings for singles and grabbed the No. 7 ranking in doubles with teammate Urjasz.
 
"Last season, we had just one singles player ranked, this year as of now we have two singles players ranked and two doubles teams ranked as well. We are all about improving," added Tucker. "Seniors Antonio Shaw and Eugene Boure have done an excellent job in leading and teaching the new guys how we do things at Salem."
 
Salem starts its season on February 3^rd against Walsh in Canton, Ohio.