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Ajed hitting over head
Nate Stickney

Men’s Tennis Looks to Defend NEC Title in 2025

| By: Anna Harris (aharris19@binghamton.edu)

Bearcats open season at home against St. John’s, Niagara this weekend

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (binghamtonbearcats.com) - Binghamton Men's Tennis is set to begin its 2024 Northeast Conference title defense this Friday, Jan. 24, against St. John's inside the Lane-Starke Tennis Center. First serve is slated for 8 p.m. 

The match features guest commentary by Cracked Racquet's Daniel Westhoff and Coach Mark Bey on the organization's Youtube channel. 

The Bearcats round out opening weekend at home against Niagara, Sunday, Jan. 26. Match time is set for 12:30 p.m. and will be streamed for free on PlaySight. 

ON THE SCHEDULE 
The Bearcats are set to compete in 20 matches this spring against 19 opponents from multiple conferences. Binghamton competes in the Northeast Conference for the second season after claiming the title last year. 

'I love the way our schedule sets up this year," said Head Coach Nick Zieziula. "There are tremendous opportunities for us to put our stamp on the season week after week." 

After this weekend, Binghamton starts up NEC play at Le Moyne, Jan. 31, and at home vs. Saint Francis, Feb. 1. Binghamton heads to Colgate, Feb. 2, then hosts BYU, Feb. 4, before returning to the road against NJIT, Feb. 7, Monmouth, Feb. 8, Siena, Feb. 14, and Bucknell, Feb. 16. The Bearcats come back to Vestal to face Army, Feb. 22. 

Binghamton sets out for a seven-match roadtrip next at Princeton, Feb. 28, Stonehill and Nichols, March 1, Bryant, March 2, Marist, March 8, and St. Bonaventure, March 12. The Bearcats compete in their last away contest of the season at first-year NEC member Mercyhurst, March 13. 

The Bearcats finish up the regular season at home with three straight conference matches against FDU, March 23, LIU, April 4, and Le Moyne, April 11. The NEC Championship will be held April 18-20 in West Windsor, N.J., at the Mercer County Tennis Center. 

"It's gonna be tough out of the gate with our early non conference matches," Zieziula said. "But overall, I think we've got a great schedule, well balanced to give ourselves opportunities to learn confidence so that we're ready for the NCAA tournament."

BINGHAMTON'S BEARCATS 
All but one Bearcat on the 2024 NEC Championship roster returns to the court for Binghamton this spring. Additionally, Zieziula added transfer Jonathan Arbittier to the team from Rider this summer. 

William Morais Binnie, Ronin Lotlikar and Filipe Costa will return to the top three spots in the singles line up while Zubin Omar, Kyle Weekes, James McPherson, Andre Ajed and Andrew Fang fill in the final three positions. 

Morais Binnie and Lotlikar will team up as the top doubles pairing followed by Weekes and McPherson in the second spot. Fang and Costa round out the last spot after they recorded a 13-5 doubles record last spring. 

"I don't think we have a big drop off because our team had the level last year and added experience to that level. The guys are prepared to step in and play wherever they're needed," Zieziula stated. 

FALL PREPARATIONS 
Binghamton competed in five events across the fall slate, hosting two invitationals and traveling to Navy twice along with the ITA New England Regional.

"I think they did a great job this fall working on individual pieces of their game," said Zieziula. "The work that the guys put in improving the parts of their game that they needed to was tremendous. They were really committed to that." 

Lotlikar led the Bearcats with seven singles wins, two of those coming in the qualifying rounds of the ITA regional. Lotlikar also picked up victories over players from Le Moyne, Hartford, Navy, Bucknell, Marist and Brown. 

Morais Binnie followed his teammate with six singles wins and four consecutive victories at the Navy Gold Invitational and the ITA Regional. Ajed and Omar picked up five individual wins apiece this fall. 

The focal point of the fall schedule though, according to Ziezula, was the team's doubles success.  

"In my tenure, I don't think we've had such a high winning percentage with all of our doubles matches combined in the fall," Zieziula said. "Across all the weekends, seeing the depth and the opportunities that we had to juggle the line up and still be able to find wins was a big highlight of the fall" 

Binghamton registered more than 30 doubles victories across five contests. Ajed and Omar recorded a perfect 6-0 record this fall, earning the pair the No. 79 spot in the ITA's doubles rankings, Dec. 3. Andrew Fang and Filipe Costa collected four wins as a doubles team. 

SOMETHING SPECIAL
This season, both the men's and women's teams are set to host a variety of promotion's at  this season's home matches. 

After their broadcast for the men's team, Cracked Racquet's guest commentary returns for the women's program in its contest against Stonehill, Feb. 16. 

Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger will also deliver a ceremonial first serve before the men face Niagara this Sunday, Jan. 26, to celebrate his upcoming retirement. President Stenger will do the same before the women's match against St. Francis, Feb. 1. 

In association with Tennis Charities of Binghamton, both teams will also have the opportunity to host youth groups from the Kings County Tennis League and Cary Leeds Center, Feb. 21-23. The groups will be able to attend practices, matches, spectate Binghamton and go on campus tours. 

"Our events this season say a lot about the commitment that the guys have made to engaging with all of our service projects, it makes it a fun atmosphere for the guys to be able to play in and even make other people interested," Zieziula remarked. 

THE OUTLOOK 
According to Zieziula, the team's culture of closeness and support is the key to a second consecutive NEC title this spring. 

"Our current team motto is gratitude, great, edify and compete. If there's one that I think the guys really rallied around the most is edify," Zieziula said. "Building each other up and really trying to help each other on and off the court. 

"These guys take care of each other, making sure that they're prepared and ready," he continued. "They take care of business from the bottom up, not waiting for somebody to tell them what to do and take the initiative."

UP NEXT 
Binghamton begins NEC action at Le Moyne, Friday, Jan. 31, and then at home vs. Saint Francis, Saturday, Feb. 1. Match times will be announced at a later date. 
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