SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA men's tennis team will open its 2012 fall campaign at the Islanders Open this weekend in Corpus Christi. The three-day event begins on Friday and will feature five teams in addition to the Roadrunners (Houston, Lamar, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas-Pan American).
UTSA is coming off the program's third appearance in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Southland Conference Tournament last spring. Third-year head coach Jeff Kader's squad boasts eight returning letterwinners, including sophomore David Kelleher, who was a first-team All-Southland selection at No. 5 singles a year ago.
The Birds also return junior Yannick Junger — who made up half of the Southland's top doubles team last spring — junior Kolby Kilgo and sophomore Joel Rubio, who both were named first-team all-conference at No. 3 doubles.
Seniors Martin Ayala and Tyler Brown also are back for their final season. The duo earned second-team all-league laurels at No. 2 doubles a year ago.
The Roadrunners added four newcomers to the mix this year.
Joining the team are freshmen Eric Buchalter (Birmingham, Ala./Mountain Brook HS), Diogo Alves Casa (Pelotas, Brazil/Pelotes HS), Boburjon Kamiljanov (Fergana, Uzbekistan/Ferghana HS) and Lewis Whiteley (Bromley, England/Trinity School).