The College of Staten Island men’s tennis squad has been idle since March 30 thanks to Mother Nature, but will brave the chill and winds today as they get set to face Baruch College this afternoon at the CSI Tennis Center.  Baruch is the home team for the contest, as the match was originally scheduled to be played at the National Tennis Center, but was moved to CSI due to renovations taking place in Flushing Meadows.

CSI vs. BARUCH COLLEGE AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup:  CSI (2-3 overall, 1-1 CUNYAC) vs. Baruch College (8-1 Overall, 4-0 CUNYAC)
Where:  CSI Tennis Center – 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY
First Serve: 4:00 pm
Last Year’s Result:  Baruch defeated CSI twice: 6-3 & 5-3
Players to Watch (CSI): The Dolphins will rely on steady play throughout the lineup to lead them past Baruch.  Andrew Adia has been playing well of late.  He is 2-2 overall in singles this season, but is boasting a healthy 5-0 record in doubles with three different teammates.  Alex Tsui has been playing well in the No. 5 spot in Singles this season, boasting a 2-1 record in that spot and the Dolphins will be relying on his play today as well.
Players to Watch (BC):  Hugo Castalan has been brilliant this year in the top spot for the Bearcats, boasting a 7-1 record at the top spot, a mark that includes a 4-0 mark in conference play.  Sharki Ahmed is another player towards the bottom of the order who has shined, boasting a 5-1 singles mark while on a four match win streak.  David Alabo has been lights-out for Baruch with a 6-0 overall mark.
News and Notes: Baruch is red-hot coming into today’s match.  They’ve managed to get 9 matches in against the backdrop of some serious weather complications and are on an eight-game win streak after dropping their season-opener to Yeshiva University.  The Dolphins are on a two-match skid, having recently fell to Hunter College, 7-2.  The teams share Purchase College and CCNY as common opponents.  Both teams powered over CCNY, while Baruch was able to beat Purchase, 7-2 and CSI lost to the Panthers, 5-4.  The teams met twice last year, with Baruch taking the regular season meeting, 6-3, and then the post season meeting, 5-3.  CSI had won all three doubles matches in that postseason encounter, but Baruch was able to rip off five singles wins in a row to clinch it.  Baruch would go on to fall to Hunter in the CUNYAC Championship.  Baruch has won the last 9 meetings dating back to 2011.  CSI’s last win in the series was in the 2010 postseason tournament.