Bulldog Blog

By Natalie Pearson
The Bulldog men’s and women’s tennis programs are poised to begin a positive 2011 season with the addition of new players, old and new.

For the women’s team, Freshman Zoe Hamel is joining the Bulldogs all the way from Paris, and should provide some depth to a roster that is sparse due to illness and graduated players.

As for the men, the Bulldogs boast two incoming players: freshman John Schubel and junior Alex Appelt. Appelt, a former Bulldog, played at UNC Asheville from 2008 to 2010 before taking a semester sabbatical at Roanoake College, VA. He is now back in Asheville for good, and will add sparks of chemistry on and off the court.

Although the duo will help majorly in practices and team morale, the newbies will have to wait until next year’s season to get out on the courts in official match play due to NCAA Division I transfer rules.

The Big South preseason polls have picked both Bulldog teams to finish in 7th in conference play, but Asheville has proved the polls wrong in the past, and with the help of Hamel, Schubel, Appelt and 12 returning players, can do so again.

The men’s team kicks off their spring season on Feb. 4 on home turf at the Crowne Plaza. The women will begin this Friday against Davidson, at Davidson, and, after two straight years of winning seasons will be looking for a third.
Go Bulldogs!