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Georgia Southern University Athletics

Stefano Di Aloy

Men's Tennis MG Spence

Eagles Open Up 2018 Season Against Mercer

2018 season rapidly approaches for head coach Sander Koning and company

STATESBORO, Ga. – Coming off of their undefeated season at home, the Eagles will face eight new teams with Head Coach Sander Koning starting his fourth season. During the first four seasons at Georgia Southern, Koning has posted back to back winning seasons for the first time since 2000 – 2001. The Blue and White also produced the first undefeated home season since 1983, posting a perfect 12-0 record.

"I am very excited for the upcoming season," Senior Captain Eddie Landin said. "I believe Georgia Southern has a chance to do something great this year. We have a great group of guys who are ready to compete."

The Blue and White welcomed three new Eagles to the 2018 roster including Pascal Wagemaker, Carlos Garcia, and Grant Goldin. Wagemaker and Garcia enter their first collegiate seasons from the Netherlands and Spain respectively. Goldin transferred in from Belmont Abbey located in Belmont, North Carolina.

"I think the expectations are pretty high," Head Coach Sander Koning said. "Last year we were really young. We had three freshmen in the lineup and all three of them came back. We are a little bit more seasoned and we have some good veteran leadership. We think we are one of the contenders for the Sun Belt Conference Championship. As long as we stay in the process and keep our heads down we have a shot."

The Eagles will start the 2018 season on Jan 23, facing off against Mercer University at the Wallis Tennis Center (2 PM) and will travel as far as Colorado. The Bears defeated the Eagles 4-3 ending a seven match-winning streak for the Eagles. During that streak, the Eagles outscored their opponents 29-7. The trip to the US Air Force Academy will be the farthest west the Eagles have been, where they will face off against the Air Force and the University of Incarnate Word.

"As captains and seniors, Eddie and I are really looking forward to our last season as an Eagle," Senior Captain JC Alcala stated. "We strongly believe we are going to achieve big things."

After traveling to Colorado the Eagles will head south to the Sunshine state and compete against the University of Miami and Florida Gulf Coast. The Blue and White will continue their month-long road trip against two teams that they kicked off the 2016-17 season with. The Eagles will face off against Clemson where they fell 4-3, and The Citadel who they defeated 7-0.

For the final three matches of the road trip, the Eagles will return to Florida to compete against Florida Atlantic, Bethune-Cookman, and Stetson.

The Eagles will play nine of their final 16 matches inside the Wallis Tennis Center and will wrap up the season with three conference matches, Georgia State, Appalachian State, Louisiana, and UNC-Wilmington. It will be the final four matches of the season before the Eagles head to New Orleans for the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championships.

SERIES HISTORY
The Eagles currently lead the series 23-3, with the Bears winning the most recent match 5-2 on February 23, 2017.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides current information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, which is fully responsive with any device. Information on Eagle athletics can also be found through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics and Instagram.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, visit GSEagles.com/tickets.
 
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Players Mentioned

Eddie Landin

Eddie Landin

5' 8"
Senior
Pascal Wagemaker

Pascal Wagemaker

Freshman
Grant Goldin

Grant Goldin

Junior
JC Alcala

JC Alcala

5' 7"
Senior
Carlos Garcia

Carlos Garcia

6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Eddie Landin

Eddie Landin

5' 8"
Senior
Pascal Wagemaker

Pascal Wagemaker

Freshman
Grant Goldin

Grant Goldin

Junior
JC Alcala

JC Alcala

5' 7"
Senior
Carlos Garcia

Carlos Garcia

6' 3"
Freshman