CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel men's tennis squad will kick off its 2021 spring season on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. with a visit to ACC foe Clemson, the first of five scheduled matches against Power 5 opponents for the Bulldogs this season.
 
Head Coach Chuck Kriese will be returning to face the program that he led to national prominence in his 33-year stint as the head coach of the Tigers. During his time at Clemson, Kriese captured 685 victories and 11 ACC championships and was also a three-time national coach of the year honoree.
 
The Citadel posted a 6-12 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but came away with victories in four of its last five matches before play was halted following a 9-0 victory over UT Dallas on March 12.
 
Zvonko Bencedic returns for the 'Dogs after leading the squad with 10 singles victories in dual matches last season, including finishing the shortened season on a seven-match winning streak. Overall, of The Citadel's 43 dual singles victories in 2020, the players responsible for 28 of those wins remain on the roster this season.
 
Gavin Stewart, who played all but one dual match in the No. 1 slot for the Bulldogs in 2020, is also back after earning five victories last spring. Stewart and Bencedic also paired as The Citadel's No. 1 doubles tandem in 16 matches, picking up six wins.
 
Clemson is off to a 3-1 start this season, with its lone loss coming in a narrow 4-3 defeat to South Florida on Jan. 23. The Tigers have already dispatched Southern Conference opponents in Chattanooga (7-0) and Wofford (6-1) and are led by Ryuhei Azuma and Teodor Giusca who have each posted a perfect 4-0 record in singles play thus far.
 
Following Sunday's match, The Citadel will return to action next Saturday and Sunday at the USC Sumter Classic.