MOBILE, Ala. – The McMurry University men's tennis team will open play at the 2014 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national championship tournament beginning Tuesday through Friday (May 6-9) at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center. The War Hawks are hoping to improve upon last season's third place NCCAA national finish.
 
Head coach Mark Hathorn's team will attack the tourney with the same singles players that earned McM the bronze last season. The probable singles line-up for Hathorn's team will have seniors Felipe Cruz and Chris Breaux at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, junior Dani Perez at No. 3, senior Preston Steblein at No. 4, junior Casjen Rico at No. 5 and senior Cristiano Mendes at No. 6. Sophomores Tom Weir and Hunter Ward could also figure into the War Hawks' plans.
 
At doubles, the No. 1 slot is the War Hawks No. 5 regionally-ranked tandem of Breaux and Rico. No. 2 doubles will likely be Cruz and Perez, with the No. 3 spot held down by the senior-freshman pairing of Steblein and newcomer Dustin Douglas.
 
Breaux and Rico were both named to the Heartland Conference's all-conference team in 2014. The duo has a record of 10-7 this year and is 34-19 over the past three seasons. They won the ITA/USTA Small College regional doubles title and placed sixth in the nation, during the fall season.
 
Rico also tops McMurry with a 17-4 singles record, playing everything from No. 3 to No. 6 during 2014.
 
McMurry opens the pool play portion of the competition versus Campbellsville University (Ky.) on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.. Also on Tuesday, the War Hawks take on Indiana Wesleyan University at 2:30 p.m. Pool play completes on Wednesday with a 9 a.m. match against Palm Beach Atlantic University.
 
The top two finishers from each of the two four-team pools – Azusa Pacific University, Point University, Mississippi College and Roberts Wesleyan College comprise the other bracket – will meet in bracket semifinal matches on Thursday (9 a.m.), with championship matches taking place on Friday (9 a.m.).