Elmira College (1-3) vs. Farmingdale State (0-0) | Friday, February 19, 2016 | 1:00 P.M.
Elmira College (1-3) vs. Purchase College (0-0) | Saturday, February 20, 2016 | 6:00 P.M.
Elmira College (1-3) vs. Alfred University (0-2) | Sunday, February 21, 2016 | 9:00 A.M.
Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome – Pine Valley, NY

Elmira, NY -- Elmira College men's tennis has faced a difficult non-conference schedule to open the spring season, having faced a trio of NCAA Division II opponents. This weekend will pit the Purple and Gold against a trio of Division III teams from the Skyline and Empire 8 conferences. The Soaring Eagles open play at the Elmira College Spring Kickoff Invitational tomorrow, February 19th, against Farmingdale State at 1:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome.
 
Last Time Out
Elmira hosted a pair of NCAA Division II opponents in its last outing a week ago at the Elmira College Dual at the Domes. The Soaring Eagles opened play with an impressive 7-2 win over Salem International University, before suffering a 9-0 setback to Roberts Weselyan College. In the win over the Lions of Salem, three EC netters were double-winners, including Patrick Tracey '18, Chris Konow '18, and Yaniv Kogan '18.
 
Home-Opening Win
The Soaring Eagles downed Salem International in Elmira's home opener, 7-2. The win over the Lions marked EC's first home-opening win since the 2011 season, when the Purple and Gold prevailed in a 7-2 final over the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Since 2000, Elmira has won just three home-openers, with wins coming in 2016, 2011, and 2010, all in the form of 7-2 victories.
 
Scouting the Saxons
Alfred University enters the weekend with an 0-2 record after suffering a pair of non-conference losses during the fall season to Penn State-Behrend and Oswego State. Thankfully for the Saxons, they return their top player in Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team honoree Connor Doud, who holds down the top singles and doubles positions. Doud went 12-3 at first singles a season ago and is off to a 1-1 start in 2015-16. Also keep an eye on Alfred's doubles tandem of Pat Brown and Matt Baloga, who are 2-0 at the second spot this season.
 
Scouting the Rams
Farmingdale State opens its 2016 campaign on Friday against the Soaring Eagles. The Rams are coming off a 10-win season a year ago, one that culminated in a runner-up finish in the Skyline Conference Tournament. However, Farmingdale are without its top two players in Tyler Danzy and Chris Hunter, who combined for a 40-5 record last season, playing primarily at the top two spots in both singles and doubles. Fortunately, the Rams return a quartet of talent from a season ago in Dan Baruch, Joseph Drago, Daniel Kafka, and Kevin Palacios, who together own 33 singles wins.
 
Scouting the Panthers
Purchase College also opens its 2016 season on Friday evening against in-conference rival Farmingdale State. The Panthers enjoyed a successful 2015 campaign with a 9-3 overall record; their nine wins were the most the program has recorded since the 2012 season. However, this 2016 installment of Panther tennis will most certainly have a different look from a year ago. Purchase returns just two true starters from last year's team in Riley Damerell and Joseph Troop. Damerell produced a 17-win season last year, going 7-3 at first singles with a 9-3 mark at the top doubles spot. Troop also went 7-3 in singles, playing primarily at the third spot (5-3), and logged an 8-3 record at second doubles.