UNC Asheville Men's Tennis Faces Tough Week Ahead

Bulldogs take on East Tennessee State, Kennesaw State, and North Carolina Central in three matches this week.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The UNC Asheville Men's Tennis team is gearing up for a busy week, facing off against East Tennessee State, Kennesaw State, and North Carolina Central in three matches. The Bulldogs are looking to build on their 3-2 start to the season and overcome historical disadvantages against some of their opponents.

Why it matters

This week's matches will be a crucial test for the Bulldogs as they aim to establish themselves as a force in college tennis. The team's performance in doubles and singles play will be key, as will their ability to capitalize on home court advantage against Kennesaw State and North Carolina Central.

The details

On Wednesday, UNC Asheville will face East Tennessee State, who currently lead the all-time series 4-1. The Bulldogs will need strong performances from their top doubles and singles players, including Jip Mens, Trevor Gray, Griffin Lovern, and Daniel Franco-Key, to overcome this historical disadvantage. Friday's match against Kennesaw State, who have won all three previous meetings, will also be a challenge, with the Owls boasting a strong singles lineup. The Bulldogs will then host North Carolina Central on Saturday, where they have historically dominated the series 9-0.

  • The Bulldogs will face East Tennessee State on Wednesday, February 25th.
  • UNC Asheville will host Kennesaw State on Friday, February 27th.
  • The Bulldogs will host North Carolina Central on Saturday, February 28th.

The players

Jip Mens

Leads the Bulldogs in doubles play with four wins, and is tied for the team lead in singles wins with four.

Trevor Gray

Leads the Bulldogs in doubles play with four wins.

Griffin Lovern

Has secured three doubles victories for the Bulldogs.

Harrison Cooper

Has secured three doubles victories for the Bulldogs.

Daniel Franco-Key

Is tied for the team lead in singles wins with four.

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What’s next

The Bulldogs will need to continue their strong doubles play and work on building consistency in singles matches to be successful this week. The home match against North Carolina Central on Saturday will be a chance for the team to showcase their dominance in the series.

The takeaway

This week's matches will be a true test of the Bulldogs' depth and ability to adapt to different opponents. Their focus on doubles strategy and singles consistency will be crucial in determining their success, and the home court advantage against Kennesaw State and North Carolina Central could provide the edge they need.