With the varsity program getting cut, UMBC Club Tennis is the best chance for the Retrievers to get some national recognition. VAVEL.com will be running a series of USTA Tennis on Campus (TOC) previews of teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The USTA Mid-Atlantic region consists of schools from the Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

There are over 20 schools in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The schools range from some of the biggest schools in the country to some smaller known ones. The most recognizable names are West Virginia University, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Georgetown. Some of the smaller ones range from Washington and Lee University and Longwood University.

The previews will start with the UMBC Retrievers. The team was founded in 2005 and now with the varsity team gone starting next year, the UMBC Club Tennis team has a chance to put themselves on the map nationally. The team is just a little over 10 years old and had one of it’s best years last year. We look back at the year the Retrievers had as well as looking at their chances for their first-ever nationals bid next year.

Club Officers:

President: Kaitlyn Heo

Vice President: Noel Alberto

Men’s Captain: Sam Kiefer

Women’s Captain: Gueju Park

Key Returners and Departures

Returners

Kaitlyn Heo: Women’s singles, mixed doubles

Ninh Ngo: Men’s singles

Edward Cornish: Men’s doubles

Ati Ok: Men’s doubles

Serene Matthew: Women’s doubles, mixed doubles

Hunter Shelton: Men’s doubles, mixed doubles

Sam Keefer: Men’s singles, mixed doubles

Departures

Barun Ghosh: Mixed doubles

Byron Hung: Men’s doubles, mixed doubles

Last Year’s Results

Maryland Fall Invitational: Quarterfinals loss to UMD A

Virginia Fall Invitational: Quarterfinals loss to UVA A

USTA Mid-Atlantic Sectionals Tournament: Eliminated from Nationals contention in round-robin play; Silver Bracket champions over William and Mary

Maryland Spring Invitational: Semifinals loss to UMD A

James Madison Invitational: Winners over JMU A

USTA Border Battle: Eliminated in second round

USTA Ocean City Invitational: Finalist, loss to UMD

UMBC Club Tennis made the Gold Bracket of their opening tournament last fall at the UMD Invitational (Noel Alberto/VAVEL USA)
UMBC Club Tennis made the Gold Bracket of their opening tournament last fall at the UMD Invitational (Noel Alberto/VAVEL USA)

Expectations Headed Into Next Season

This is one of the best chances for the Retrievers to get to Nationals. The club only has two key departures, with one of them, Byron Hung, getting a significant amount of playing time. Most of the club is returning with all of them being underclassmen, outside of Sam Keefer. It is Nationals or bust now for the UMBC Club Tennis Team.