Men's Tennis Season Preview:

Under first year Head Coach Andy Stoll, Mercer men’s tennis finished 3rd at the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 2022.  The Vikings have two returning players from that 3 rd place team that will work with four newcomers to try to return to the National Championship this season.

Sophomores Mahmood El Triby (Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick) and Areeb Khan (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) are the lone returning players for the Vikings.  El Etriby and Khan earned 2 nd Team All-Region 19 Honors last season at 2 nd Doubles.  El Etriby was also named 2 nd Team All-Region 19 at 3 rd Singles.

Freshmen Rasheam Johnson (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central), Peyton Miller (Ewing, NJ/Ewing HS), Jack Wolfarth (Ewing, NJ/Ewing HS) and Mykhalo Yanchik are all expected to contribute to the Vikings lineup this season.

Assistant Men’s Coach and Head Women’s Coach Marc Vechiolla has the same team goals for the men’s team that he had for the women’s team: “to work hard, improve and have fun.”  But the men’s team also has the goal of returning to the National Championship. “The team hopes to peak during The Regional Championships in Mercer County Park later this spring in order to gain a berth in the National Championships held in Atlanta, Georgia.”

The Vikings open their season at Harford CC on March 23 rd.  Mercer’s first home match will be on March 29 th vs Ocean.  The Vikings will also host Harford on April 10 th and St. Elizabeth’s University on April 14 th.  Their final regular season match will be on April 19 th when they host Brookdale.  All Viking home matches take place at the Tennis Center at Mercer County Park.

Mercer will be hosting the Region 19 Championships on Friday, April 28 th and Saturday, April 29 th with the chance to earn a spot to the NJCAA National Championship.  The Region 19 Championship will feature RCSJ Gloucester, who finished as last year’s National Runner-Up.  The Vikings will also travel to RCSJ Gloucester for a regular match on April 4 th.

Long-time Assistant Coach Barb Pleva will assist Stoll and Vecchiolla again this season.

 

mens-tennis-region-pic.jpg

 

Men's tennis finished 2nd at the Region 19 Championships in 2022.  Pictured (L to R) are Assistant Coach Barb Pleva, Areeb Khan, Alfred Kandakai, Mahmood El Etriby and Ronaldo Jacome.  Head Coach Andy Stoll is kneeling in front.