The Emory University men's tennis team made its fall debut on Friday with a strong showing on the opening day of the ITA South Regional Championships, hosted by North Carolina Wesleyan.
The day began in singles where the Eagles saw seven of its 10-member contingent advance to the round of 16. Junior Nolan Shah, the draw's No. 2 seed, needed just one win following a first-round bye as he advanced past Sewanee's George Alexander with ease 6-0, 6-3. Newcomers Dean Kamenev, Charlie James and Emilio Van Cotthem followed suit and advanced in the draw, needed only one win with all three winning their round of 32 matches in straight sets against North Carolina Wesleyan opponents: Kamenev (6-1, 6-4), James (6-0, 6-1) and Van Cotthem (6-3, 5-0; withdrew due to injury).
The trio of junior Ryan Glanville and freshmen John Lasanajak and Eshaan Dani joined their Eagle teammates in the round of 16 following two wins each on Friday with Glanville posting wins of 6-1, 6-3 and 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) against Birmingham-Southern and Sewanee foes while Lasanajak impressed with identical 6-1, 6-1 victories in his two matches and Dani needing a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 against NCW's Vittorio Noli after recording a 6-2, 6-0 in the first round over his opponent from Sewanee.
The Eagles found equal success in the doubles portion of the tournament Friday afternoon with four of the five doubles teams in action reaching the quarterfinals.
The top seeded team in Glanville and James won their matches 8-3 and 8-6 against NCW and Sewanee counterparts while the No. 2 seeded team of Shah and Lasanajak were 8-3 and 8-2 winners over teams from Sewanee and North Carolina Wesleyan.
Kamenev and junior Brandon Cohen will be matched up against Shah/Lasanajak in the quarters after they breezed past a pair of Millsaps tandems 8-2 and 8-5 while Van Cotthem and senior William Coupe won easily, 8-1, against NCW in the first round before needing a tiebreak to defeat a team out of Birmingham-Southern, 8-7 (6), in the round of 16.
The ITA South Regional Championships continue Saturday morning with more singles competition before the quarterfinals and semifinals of doubles in the afternoon.