April 1, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The first of nine Atlantic 10 Spring champions will be crowned this week, Apr. 4-6, as the 2008 Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Championship takes place at the Club 4 Life in Monroeville, Pa.

George Washington, the top seed for the 2008 Championship, is led by senior Mustafa Gencsoy, who garnered two A-10 Player of the Week honors this season. Gencsoy enters this week's action with a team-best 21-5 record in singles action. The Colonials (12-9) are vying for their second-ever A-10 title, the last coming in 1979.

Charlotte captured its first A-10 crown in 2007, denying Richmond its fifth title in six years with a victory over Xavier in the championship. Chosen in the preseason as the Conference favorite by the league's head coaches, the 49ers enter the Championship as the third seed and are led by a pair of freshmen in Michael Anders and Moritz Bernhoerster. The two have combined for 33 wins in singles play and also collected three combined A-10 Rookie of the Week honors.

The seeds for the Championship are George Washington (first), Xavier (second), Charlotte (third), Duquesne (fourth), St. Bonaventure (fifth), Richmond (sixth), Saint Joseph's (seventh), Rhode Island (eighth), Dayton (ninth), Saint Louis(tenth), La Salle (eleventh) and Fordham (twelfth).

Play begins on Friday, Apr. 4, at 8:00am, with the final match of the day starting at 5:00pm. On Saturday, Apr. 5, play begins at 8:00am and with the final match slated for 2:00pm. The fifth-place match of the Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Championship will commence on Sunday, Apr. 6, at 8:00am. The championship and third place matches close out the event at 11:00am.

For complete results of the Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Championship, log on to www.atlantic10.org.

All-Time Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Champions*
Year - School
2007 - Charlotte
2006 - Richmond
2005 - Richmond
2004 - Richmond
2003 - St. Bonaventure
2002 - Richmond
2001 - St. Bonaventure
2000 - Virginia Tech
1999 - Virginia Tech
1998 - Virginia Tech
1997 - Virginia Tech
1996 - Virginia Tech
1995 - Rutgers
1994 - West Virginia
1993 - West Virginia
1992 - West Virginia
1991 - West Virginia
1990 - West Virginia
1989 - West Virginia
1988 - West Virginia
1987 - West Virginia
1986 - Penn State
1985 - Temple
1984 - West Virginia
1983 - West Virginia
1981 - West Virginia
1980 - West Virginia
1979 - George Washington
1978 - Penn State


Championship held in the Fall from 1978-81; moved to the Spring beginning with the 1983 Championship

0824/4-1-08