The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Open Fall At Dale Short Shootout
9/20/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 20, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's tennis team will take to the courts for the first time this fall Friday when the Blazers take part in the Dale Short Shootout at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Head coach Derek Tarr's team is coming off a 17-9 record in 2011-12 as the Blazers were listed in the ITA national rankings for most of the season, including a final rank of No. 75 last June.
UAB will be joined by three other teams this weekend at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center. Host school Middle Tennessee, which finished last year ranked No. 46 nationally, Lipscomb and Southern Illinois round out the field.
Senior David Zimmerman will lead the Blazers into the 2012-13 campaign and is again expected to hold down one of the top positions in the UAB lineup. Chris Helliar, Lucas Dirube and Tom Puetz also return for the Blazers.
Tarr also will welcome a trio of newcomers to the roster this season. Auburn transfer Rafael Rondino, Gardner-Webb transfer Korhan Ates and Luiz Felipe Pinto are also expected to make contributions to the Blazers.
The tournament will run through Sunday at MTSU.
