LAKELAND, Fla.- The Southeastern University men's tennis team has set their sights on the 2022 season. Returning some key components of last season's incredible group and reloaded with a plethora of international talent, the Fire remain in the conversation as a premier Sun Conference program that is continuing to rise on the national scale.
The Fire men are fresh off a historic 2021 season, where SEU went 8-7, advanced to The SUN Tournament Final for the first time in program history, and also made the program's first ever appearance at NAIA Nationals.
Heading into this season, SEU was voted to finish second in The 2022 Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and received a first-place vote. This season's team features a total of three returners and six newcomers.
Missing from this season's team is Felipe Barbosa, who was a five-year member of the team for the Fire. Barbosa was 9-2 at line five singles last season. Barbosa will continue to contribute to the program this season as a graduate assistant coach.
Also not returning is Alexandre D'Aboville, who went 7-2 at line four singles in 2021 and Tyler Glowaki, who was 6-3 at line six.
Returning for the Fire is senior Theodor Preiswerk, who was 7-4 at line three singles last season, as well as Enrique Martinez, who went 5-4 at line two.
Graduate students Federico Barbon, a transfer from Point, and Roy Stepanov, a transfer from NCAA Division II, are two key newcomers for Southeastern. The duo had a sensational fall campaign as a doubles' pairing, advancing to the finals of the Florida ITA Regional Championship doubles' draw. This was the furthest a doubles' team from SEU has ever made it at the ITA's, as Barbon and Stepanov became the first duo in program history to qualify for the ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia.
The Fire have added another graduate transfer from Wingate in Christian DellaCioppa. The Sydney, Australia native had an impressive fall season as well, going undefeated in singles' play at the Rollins Invitational.
Southeastern hits the court this Saturday on the road versus NCAA Division II Saint Leo University at 10:00 a.m.
