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1/6/2009 - MEN'S TENNIS
Olivares First A-Sun Tennis Player Ranked in the ITA top-10
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - If you look at all the well-deserved accomplishments that ETSU men's tennis senior Enrique Olivares (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) has earned over the past three seasons in Johnson City, none may be as big as the one the senior captain received on Tuesday afternoon.
After a remarkable fall season Olivares will start 2009 as the ninth-ranked player in the country according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). This marks the first time in ITA history that an Atlantic Sun Conference player received a top-10 ranking. This also marks only the second time in school history that a Buccaneer player received a top-10 ranking by the ITA (current ETSU head coach Yaser Zaatini was ranked fourth in 1993).
After starting the fall season ranked No. 31 Olivares put together a magic run, which included going 15-3 in singles play. In his final tournament of the fall the 2008 All-American outlasted 24 of the top ITA singles players at the prestigious ITA National Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va. Also during the fall campaign Olivares took top honors at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships in Athens, Ga., defeating preseason No. 4 ranked Bruno Agostinelli of Kentucky in the finals.
Additionally, notable opponents Olivares defeated during fall play include current preseason ranked No. 11 Michael Shabaz of Virginia, No. 18 Nate Schnugg of Georgia, No. 20 Brett Helgeson of Norte Dame, No. 29 Clint Bowles of Florida State and 2008 NCAA Singles Runner-up J.P. Smith of Tennessee.
Over his career Olivares has received a number of accomplishments and awards, which include being named two-time A-Sun Tournament MVP and a three-time A-Sun First-team member. Also the ETSU senior was named the 2007-08 A-Sun Player of the Year, while earning his way to the NCAA Singles Championship Round of 16 a year ago.
