The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Tennis Team At USTA/ITA Southern Regional
10/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 17, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Four players will represent the UAB men's tennis team at this weekend's USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships at Auburn, Ala.
Ten teams (UAB, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Samford, South Alabama, Troy and Tulane) will have players in the field at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Unfortunately for the Blazers, one of their top players -- senior David Zimmerman -- will not be participating this weekend due to illness.
"It's a tough blow for David and for our team not to have him this weekend," said UAB head coach Derek Tarr. "He's been playing great tennis and I think would have made a good showing in the tournament."
Chris Helliar, Tom Puetz, Rafael Rondino and Lucas Dirube will be UAB's participants in the event that starts Thursday morning. In addition to singles play, Rondino and Puetz will team in doubles. Helliar and Dirube will also be a doubles tandem in the tournament.
Helliar will get an early start Thursday (8:30 a.m.) as he plays a first round singles match against Paulo Alvarado of Southern Miss. Dirube also will be on the courts for an 8:30 matchup against Rodrigo Rappaccioli of Tulane. Likewise, Puetz meets Alabama's Stuart Kenyon in a first-round match.
Rondino, an Auburn transfer, has a first round bye before facing Tulane's Ian Van Gott in second round play Thursday.
In doubles, Rondino and Puetz will go against Mississippi State's Zach White and Ethan Wilkinson while Helliar and Dirube have a bye.
