ELON, N.C. – Elon University men's tennis is set to open its 2017 spring campaign on Monday afternoon, Jan. 16, in Durham, N.C., against the Duke Blue Devils. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY
In eight meetings all-time with the Blue Devils, Duke holds a 1-7 record against Elon. The lone Elon victory came to open the 2014 season when the Phoenix defeated No. 7 Duke in Durham, 4-3. Monday's meeting marks the fourth time in five seasons the two programs have met.
 
SCOUTING DUKE
Duke enters 2017 after an 11-15 campaign in 2016, which saw the Blue Devils go 4-8 in ACC play and miss the NCAA Tournament. Last season, then-No. 13 Duke defeated Elon 6-1 to open the year. Mario Paccini earned Elon's point, topping then-No. 102 TJ Pura 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Duke received votes in the first ITA rankings of 2017, which was cut down from ranking 75 teams to just 25 teams. Nicholas Alvarez is the only Blue Devil in the singles rankings, checking in at No. 10 in the nation. In doubles, he and Nick Stachowiak are No. 33 in the country.
 
THROWING IT BACK
Elon picked up the program's best win to date on Jan. 17, 2014, when the Phoenix knocked off seventh-ranked Duke at Sheffield Tennis Center. Brian Kowalski clinched the victory with a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 6-5 (3) win over Raphael Hemmeler at No. 4 singles. After Elon had won the doubles point, No. 25 Cameron Silverman defeated No. 52 Jason Tahir in three sets at No. 1 and Jordan Kaufman earned a three-set victory over Cale Hammond at No. 6. The win over the seventh-ranked team in the nation marks the highest-ranked opponent Elon has topped in program history.
 
ANOTHER LOOK AT 2016
The Phoenix posted a 17-6 record throughout 2016, which included a 12-3 mark in matches played at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. After losing three of the team's first five matches of the season to No. 13 Duke, No. 40 NC State and No. 1 Virginia, Elon went 14-2 in its final 16 regular-season matches. The run included a seven-match winning streak from March 11 to April 3 and was capped with a win over No. 62 William & Mary. Elon dropped a 4-3 decision in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament to College of Charleston to finish the season.
 
ITA RANKINGS
In the Jan. 4 release of the ITA rankings, Neal Port and Salvador Mijares checked in as the 42nd-ranked doubles duo in the country. The ranking marks the first time either player has been ranked in their respective careers. The two had a stellar showing during the fall season at the ITA Carolina Regionals, earning three victories in a trip to the quarterfinals, which included a win over the nation's 33rd-ranked duo of Jack Murray and Ronnie Schneider from North Carolina.
 
BRINGING BACK TALENT
Elon returns 2016 CAA Rookie of the Year and Felipe Sarrasague, who was also named a first-team All-CAA honoree. The Phoenix also bring back fellow All-CAA first-teamer Mario Paccini. Seniors Petar Tomic and Chris Humphreys earned a spot on the All-CAA first team in doubles.
 
RISING STARS
True freshmen played a big role in Elon's 2016 success. Taylor Foote (1), Salvador Mijares (13), Felipe Osses-Konig (6), Mario Paccini (13) and Felipe Sarrasague (15) combined for 48 of the team's 86 singles wins (56 percent) over the course of 2016. Sarrasague and senior Robert Lindgren led Elon with a team-high 15 dual-match singles wins.  
 
SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY
Elon will open the season with six matches away from the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. After playing Duke, the Phoenix plays a doubleheader against Monmouth and NC State in Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 22 before traveling to Furman, VCU and Old Dominion. The first home match of the season for Elon is set for Feb. 8 against Liberty and is the first of four in a row at home.
 
HEAD COACH MICHAEL LEONARD
Winner of the 2016 CAA Coach of the Year award, Michael Leonard is now in his 13th season as Elon's director of tennis and head men's tennis coach. Leonard is a five-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year and has led Elon to five conference championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances to date, the last coming in 2014.