MARSHALL, Texas – Opening their season on the road, the East Texas Baptist University men's tennis team will head out to Abilene, Texas, for two matches against McMurry University and the University of the Southwest. ETBU opens up the season as the favorite in the American Southwest Conference East Division.
 
Last year, ETBU finished 6-10 overall, and was second in the ASC East Division with a 4-1 record. ETBU returns six members from last season's squad, including juniors Andrew Deutsch, John Herr, Joseph Salinas, and Ty Tarver, and sophomores Dalton Barron and Tyler Howard. Joining the team for this season are three freshmen, including Adam Morris, Canyon Ramsey, and Tyrese Sheffield.
 
ETBU hosted McM last year in their opening match and came away with their first win ever against the War Hawks, 6-3. That match saw the doubles pairs of Deutsch and Howard (#2 Doubles) and Salinas and Tarver (#3 Doubles) win their respected matches by scores of 8-2 and 8-5.  ETBU managed to win four singles matches as Salinas (#2 Singles), Deutsch (#3 Singles), Herr (#4 Singles), and Tarver (#6 Singles) collected the points needed to win. McM finished 9-11 last season and 4-2 in the conference.
 
This will also mark the first ever meeting between ETBU and USW.
 
The first match against McM will take place this Saturday at 9:00 AM while USW will be ETBU's next opponent at 2:00 PM.