SIC Draw Sheets (updated 9/24/10)

ATHENS, Ga. – “Fall Previews” are not just for the annual TV Guide edition. From Friday through Monday (Sept. 24-27), Mercer University men’s tennis head coach Warren Woolfolk will get a sneak-peak at his 2010-11 roster at the 43^rd Southern Intercollegiate Championships hosted by the University of Georgia.

The tournament is one of two fall competitions for the Bears in preparation for the spring season.The Southern Intercollegiate Championships – formerly known as the Southern Collegiates – is the oldest fall college tournament in America.

The field will be divided into three singles divisions and two doubles, with a champion being named for each division. There will be a maximum of two rounds of singles consolation play for first-round losers. There will be no doubles consolation.

Play begins Friday at 8 a.m. with singles and continues through Monday afternoon.

Competing teams include host UGA, Florida, Mississippi State, Memphis, Louisiana State, Georgia Southern, South Carolina, Miami and Georgia Tech. Mercer’s Atlantic Sun Conference mates Lipscomb, Stetson and East Tennessee State are also slated to participate. In all, 36 schools are expected to be a part of the field.

“It seems to have become tradition for the men’s tennis team here at Mercer to start off the season by traveling to Athens to compete in the SIC’s,” said Woolfolk, beginning his second season at the Bears’ helm. “This tournament always attracts the best teams and players in the country.

“This weekend we are looking to go deep in the draw with our newcomer, Pierre Tafelski, who was ranked as high as 41 in the nation in NCAA Division II last season. Also, I expect sophomore Peter Tauchner to do some damage, as he has really been playing great tennis these last few weeks.”

Another newcomer to the MU team - Athens native John Bauerle - will be returning to his hometown to compete this weekend. Bauerle’s father, Jack, is the longtime swim coach at UGA. “This will definitely add some extra motivation for him to do well,” said Woolfolk.

Mercer’s returning No. 2/3 singles player from 2009-10 – senior Fernando Armendaris – will be on the shelf with an injury for this tournament.  Other returning players from last season’s roster who will be competing include Mark Worsham, Dave Barton and Evandro Rosindo.

“I am excited to see how all of our players match up with the top players in the country,” Woolfolk said. “This is what we have been looking forward to since returning to campus this fall.”