Saturday, January 13
Bloomington, Ind.
4:00 p.m.
University of Toledo
at
Indiana
Senior Adam Kovac and the Rockets will open the 2024 campaign against Indiana in Bloomington, IN on Saturday afternoon.
Photo by: Bree Bee
Toledo Begins 2024 Campaign at Indiana
1/12/2024 9:55:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Defending Mid-American Conference Champion Rockets take the court for the first time in 2024 on Saturday
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men's tennis team will begin its 2024 campaign this Saturday, Jan. 13 as it takes on Indiana at the IU Tennis Center. The Hoosiers are the first of seven road opponents on deck for the Rockets this season.
"In front of us is our toughest non-conference schedule ever, with a handful of nationally ranked and P5 teams, then closing out the year by hosting the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championships on our courts," Head coach Al Wermer said. "Leading the way, of course, is Pawit Sornlaksup, currently #68 in ITA singles rankings and in the top 1100 ATP World Ranking."
About the Rockets
Toledo had a historic season in 2022-23, capturing its first Mid-American Conference Championship title in 50 years and first under Wermer, who enters his 27th year at the helm. Wermer, who was named UT's first MAC Coach of the Year in 2023, brings 317 career wins into this new season.
Toledo produced an 18-6 overall record with an 8-2 league mark, its best record in the regular season since winning 19 matches during the 2012-13 season. UT's magical season included its first win over rival Western Michigan on April 9 under Wermer's direction. The Rockets defeated the Broncos again in a dramatic 4-3 final for the tournament crown to extend their season into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
"I think we could have a pretty good team this year," Wermer said. "It's about as good of a roster mix as you could ask for. Our three seniors have a lot of experience, can play high in the lineup, and have continued to improve. We have a couple of guys with one to two years of college play and championship pedigrees. Then we have three strong-willed freshmen who seem excited and ready for big moments."
A two-time MAC Player of the Year, Sornlaksup returns for this third season in the Midnight Blue and Gold and as the No.68 ranked singles player in the country by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) at the end of the fall season. On the line for the senior is a 43-match winning streak in dual competition that began back in January of 2021. During the fall, Sornlaksup compiled a 14-5 record and represented UT at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic (semifinals), ITA All-American Championships, ITA Midwest Regional (quarterfinals), and was the MAC Indoors singles and doubles champion with graduate student Marko Galic.
Returning to the court from UT's 2023 MAC Championship team with Sornlaksup (101-24 career) and Galic (83-41 career) are second-team All-MAC honoree Adam Kovac (70-73 career) and sophomore Matias Olivero (34-36 career).
Galic clinched match point for the Rockets against Youngstown State and Duquesne in the regular season, and vs. Buffalo in the semifinals of the 2023 MAC Tournament to advance to the title match. Kovac clinched match point in Toledo's 4-2 victory over Dayton, while Olivero had the clinching point vs. IUPUI and Western Michigan during the regular season.
UT added three freshmen, Cole Cozens, Poonthong Komolpisut, and Charlie Snow, and one junior, Hanamichi Carvajal, to the Roster this season.
Fall Season Recap
Toledo had a packed fall schedule earlier this season where Conzens, Komolpisut, and Snow had great success in their first collegiate matches. Wermer's crew compiled a 69-42 record through six tournaments and captured four flight titles at the MAC Indoors in Kalamazoo, Mich. (Nov. 4-6). Sornlaksup and Komolpisut also competed at the M25 ITF World Tour in the last tournament of the fall season, representing their home country of Thailand.
About Indiana
Indiana ended the 2022-23 season with a 13-15 (1-8 Big Ten) record and fell to No.1 seed Ohio State 4-0 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers' Sam Landau is ranked No. 70 in the ITA Men's Singles rankings. The sophomore went 13-4 last spring, mostly from the No. 3 and 2 singles courts, and was tabbed with the 2023 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Toledo vs. Indiana
Bloomington, IN | IU Tennis Center
Saturday, Jan. 13 | 4:00 p.m.
Live Video | Live Stats
What's Next
Toledo will play at Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 20, before a doubleheader against Butler and IUPUI on Sunday, Jan. 21 in Indianapolis, IN on their way back to the Glass City.
Follow the Rockets
Be sure to follow the Rockets' men's tennis team on social media:
"In front of us is our toughest non-conference schedule ever, with a handful of nationally ranked and P5 teams, then closing out the year by hosting the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championships on our courts," Head coach Al Wermer said. "Leading the way, of course, is Pawit Sornlaksup, currently #68 in ITA singles rankings and in the top 1100 ATP World Ranking."
About the Rockets
Toledo had a historic season in 2022-23, capturing its first Mid-American Conference Championship title in 50 years and first under Wermer, who enters his 27th year at the helm. Wermer, who was named UT's first MAC Coach of the Year in 2023, brings 317 career wins into this new season.
Toledo produced an 18-6 overall record with an 8-2 league mark, its best record in the regular season since winning 19 matches during the 2012-13 season. UT's magical season included its first win over rival Western Michigan on April 9 under Wermer's direction. The Rockets defeated the Broncos again in a dramatic 4-3 final for the tournament crown to extend their season into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
"I think we could have a pretty good team this year," Wermer said. "It's about as good of a roster mix as you could ask for. Our three seniors have a lot of experience, can play high in the lineup, and have continued to improve. We have a couple of guys with one to two years of college play and championship pedigrees. Then we have three strong-willed freshmen who seem excited and ready for big moments."
A two-time MAC Player of the Year, Sornlaksup returns for this third season in the Midnight Blue and Gold and as the No.68 ranked singles player in the country by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) at the end of the fall season. On the line for the senior is a 43-match winning streak in dual competition that began back in January of 2021. During the fall, Sornlaksup compiled a 14-5 record and represented UT at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic (semifinals), ITA All-American Championships, ITA Midwest Regional (quarterfinals), and was the MAC Indoors singles and doubles champion with graduate student Marko Galic.
Returning to the court from UT's 2023 MAC Championship team with Sornlaksup (101-24 career) and Galic (83-41 career) are second-team All-MAC honoree Adam Kovac (70-73 career) and sophomore Matias Olivero (34-36 career).
Galic clinched match point for the Rockets against Youngstown State and Duquesne in the regular season, and vs. Buffalo in the semifinals of the 2023 MAC Tournament to advance to the title match. Kovac clinched match point in Toledo's 4-2 victory over Dayton, while Olivero had the clinching point vs. IUPUI and Western Michigan during the regular season.
UT added three freshmen, Cole Cozens, Poonthong Komolpisut, and Charlie Snow, and one junior, Hanamichi Carvajal, to the Roster this season.
Fall Season Recap
Toledo had a packed fall schedule earlier this season where Conzens, Komolpisut, and Snow had great success in their first collegiate matches. Wermer's crew compiled a 69-42 record through six tournaments and captured four flight titles at the MAC Indoors in Kalamazoo, Mich. (Nov. 4-6). Sornlaksup and Komolpisut also competed at the M25 ITF World Tour in the last tournament of the fall season, representing their home country of Thailand.
About Indiana
Indiana ended the 2022-23 season with a 13-15 (1-8 Big Ten) record and fell to No.1 seed Ohio State 4-0 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers' Sam Landau is ranked No. 70 in the ITA Men's Singles rankings. The sophomore went 13-4 last spring, mostly from the No. 3 and 2 singles courts, and was tabbed with the 2023 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Toledo vs. Indiana
Bloomington, IN | IU Tennis Center
Saturday, Jan. 13 | 4:00 p.m.
Live Video | Live Stats
What's Next
Toledo will play at Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 20, before a doubleheader against Butler and IUPUI on Sunday, Jan. 21 in Indianapolis, IN on their way back to the Glass City.
Follow the Rockets
Be sure to follow the Rockets' men's tennis team on social media:
- X (formerly Twitter): @ToledoMTennis
- Instagram & Threads: toledomtennis
- Facebook: Toledo Men's Tennis
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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