Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Citadel tennis team was ousted from the Southern Conference Tournament by No. 55 ETSU on Friday.

The eighth-seeded Bulldogs (9-29) fell 4-0 to the top-seeded Buccaneers (16-5), who are aiming for their 10th consecutive Southern Conference Tournament crown.

"I am not disappointed at all with the way that the guys competed," head coach Chuck Kriese said. "They played hard from start to finish and credit goes to ETSU for being locked in and staying locked in. We gained a lot of ground this year. I have often said that I wish the season would go on for another month. The team is young and hungry, and it is just a matter of time until we get to the level we need to be at."

ETSU claimed the doubles point by winning at No. 2 and No. 3 in the lineup. Sophomore Artemie Amari and freshman Matthew Henson were tied 3-3 at No. 1 with the 57th-ranked doubles duo in the nation when the point was clinched. In singles, the Buccaneers earned victories at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 to end the match.

The Citadel's nine wins in 2016 mark the program's highest single-season win total under Coach Kriese and the most wins in a season since 2008. Freshmen and sophomores combined to claim 65 of the Bulldogs' 73 singles victories this season, resulting in 89 percent of the team's individual wins being produced by underclassmen.

Amari earned the most wins among Bulldogs in singles and doubles, taking 15 wins in singles play and 14 total victories in doubles. Fellow sophomore Nicholas Bradley was next on the team with 12 singles victories. Freshmen Michael Anzalone and Henson each had 11 wins in singles competition this season, and classmate Roy Hobson earned 10 singles wins in 2016.

"The youth on this team is building something very special," Coach Kriese said. "It is great to watch and a lot of fun to see the commitment level each and every day. We also had a good recruiting year. I believe the future is bright for The Citadel tennis program."

For more information on The Citadel tennis, follow @CitadelOlympic or visit CitadelSports.com.