The 2017-18 edition of the Emory men's tennis team maintained its reputation as one of the premier programs in Division III.  With a lineup that featured both experience and youth, the Eagles concluded the campaign with an overall record of 19-5 and a No. 4 national ranking. 

After finishing runner-up at the University Athletic Association Championships, the Eagles were selected to host the opening rounds of NCAA Regional action. After drawing a bye in the first round, Emory rolled to a 5-1 decision over Washington and Lee in the semifinals before blanking No. 23 North Carolina Wesleyan, 5-0, in the finals, sending the team to Claremont, California, for the D-III Championships. It represented the program's 21st consecutive appearance and the 27th time of 29 seasons that it had advanced to the national quarterfinals.  The Eagles opened with an impressive 5-0 triumph against No. 4 Williams in the Round of Eight before seeing their season end the following day when No. 1 and eventual national titlist Middlebury came away with a 5-3 triumph in the semis. 

After the team portion of the Championships wrapped up, Emory had four players compete in the Singles and Doubles portion of the event. Junior Jonathan Jemison advanced to the quarterfinals after winning his opening two matches while freshman Hayden Cassone captured All-America honors after playing his way to the Round of 16.  In doubles, the unseeded tandem of senior Scott Rubinstein and junior James Spaulding battled their way into the finals, posting a 6-3, 6-2 outcome over the University of Chicago's Tyler Raclin and Jeremy Yuan in the semifinals before falling short to the No. 1-seeded duo of Lubomir Cuba and Kyle Schlanger from Middlebury.  Rubinstein's and Spaulding's effort at nationals allowed to capture All-America honors for the third straight campaign with Rubinstein closing out his four-year career with 76 doubles wins, good for eighth place on the program's all-time chart.

During the fall portion of the schedule, Jemison earned All-America honors after capturing his first ITA South Region singles title, defeating teammate Rex Serituk, 6-4, 6-2, in the championship encounter. In doubles, junior Adrien Bouchet and freshman Will Wanner brought home the doubles title, and with it All-America recognition, after bettering Jemison and Cassone in the finals, 7-6, 6-3. 

Another highlight took place when Emory became the first school to win three straight ITA National Indoor Championships, battling to three 5-4 victories over nationally-ranked foes.  The Eagles began their march to the crown by rallying from a 3-4 deficit to claim a 5-4 outcome over host and No. 16 Gustavus Adolphus in the quarterfinals, with Scott Rubinstein coming through with the clinching point at No. 6 singles, outlasting Tommy Entwistle, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Emory waged another battle royale in the semifinals, topping No. 9 Chicago as freshman Hayden Cassone provided the heroics with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, outcome over Jeremy Yuan at four singles that snapped a 4-4 deadlock.  The flair for the dramatic was never more evident than it was in the title showdown against No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scrripps, with Emory facing a 1-4 obstacle before storming back to win the match. After Rubinstein's win at No. 6 brought Emory to a 4-4 tie, senior Andrew Harrington clawed his way to a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (3) win at fifth singles over Matthew Jacobs in the final and deciding match. 

Jemison and Cassone wound up the season as nationally ranked singles players with Jemison holding down the No. 11 position (No. 2 in the Atlantic South Region), while Cassone was slotted 24th in the D-III ranks (No. 4 Atlantic South Region).  Jemison, who held down the team's No. 1 singles spot, finished the year with an overall record of 19-12.  His 73 career singles victories ties for 18th on the program's all-time chart.  Cassone, who was tabbed as the ITA South Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year, hammered out a 26-7 singles slate with his victory total pacing the squad and tying the school's 14th-highest seasonal mark. In doubles, Rubinstein and Spaulding held down the No. 1 post for the third straight campaign, racking up a ledger of 23-13 en route to being ranked as the No. 3 tandem in D-III. 

2017-18 closed out the careers of Rubinstein, Harrington, Alec Josepher and Max Renke.  Rubinstein wrapped up his collegiate run as one of the program's most accomplished doubles performers, earning All-America acclaim in each of his last three years while registering 77 career wins, good for eighth place on the program's all-time chart. Harrington enjoyed a banner season, tallying a solid 19-4 singles mark, which included a 16-2 dual effort over the Nos. 4 & 5 positions in the lineup.  Harrington garnered Second Team All-UAA recognition, and his career singles winning percentage of .754 (40-13) ranks 14th on the program's all-time list. Josepher was a steady and productive influence in the lineup, fashioning an overall record of 18-9, which included an 11-2 effort at third singles. Josepher ended the year as the No. 18-ranked singles player in the Atlantic South Region.  A key member of the doubles contingent during his two years at Emory, Renke amassed 37 career wins, including a 16-8 performance as a senior. 

Honors and Awards