Men's Tennis Continues Impressive Non-Conference Slate This Weekend

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's tennis returns to competition this weekend, hosting Atlantic 10 Conference stalwart Richmond Friday before playing at No. 18 Mississippi State Saturday.

The Bruins (6-4) had strong performances at nationally-ranked Ole Miss Monday, as Belmont seized the doubles point in each side of the doubleheader matchup.

In the morning match, Belmont truly pushed the Rebels to the brink in singles with Alfred Wallin, Ian Cruz, Riccardo Trione, Tomas Luis and Jack Randall all forcing decisive third sets.

In the nightcap, after again claiming the doubles point, Luis defeated Isac Stromberg to account for the final tally.

With each passing match, Belmont charts new territory and positions itself among the nation's top programs.

Case in point, Belmont earned its first-ever Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Top 75 Team Ranking Feb. 21, coming in at No. 74.

Belmont was selected as the Horizon League Preseason favorite earlier this season.

And led by its formidable doubles pairings of Cruz and Luis, Ilic and Trione, and Randall and Wallin, the Bruins went toe-to-toe with national programs Ole Miss, Louisville and Vanderbilt in the last two weeks.

Cruz, Luis and Trione have each recorded double figures singles victories thus far with Ilic posting a winning record at No. 1 singles.

In fact, Cruz and Luis were named Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week Wednesday. It marked the third time Belmont has earned Horizon League weekly honors this season.

Richmond (7-3) enters play following a 5-2 victory over James Madison March 2. The Spiders were picked third in the A10 Preseason Poll, with Danoel Kliebhan and John Walsh named preseason all-conference.

Mississippi State (12-2) boasts nationally-ranked singles players in Carles Hernandez and Nemanja Malesevic. The Bulldogs dropped a 4-3 decision at Ole Miss last time out.

First serve vs. Richmond is set for 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Belmont Tennis Complex.

First serve at Mississippi State is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.

Follow Belmont men's tennis on social media – @BelmontMTennis on Twitter and @belmontmtennis on Instagram – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.