USI Screaming Eagles | Men's Tennis

USI Men's Tennis 2004-05 Outlook

GLVC Regular Season Championships
1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002
GLVC Tournament Championships
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
NCAA Tournament Appearances
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

University of Southern Indiana men’s tennis Head Coach Ross Brown reloaded his team in 2003-04 and has it ready to challenge for GLVC championship and a sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament during 2004-05.

Last year, Brown had to replace two-thirds of his singles and doubles line-ups due graduation during the fall and saw his team’s record improve by the end of the spring. The Screaming Eagles went from a .500 record in 2002-03 to a 14-7 overall record in 2003-04, including a 7-1 mark in the GLVC.

The Eagles were led by GLVC Freshman of the Year Joe Epkey. Epkey posted a 21-6 singles record, going 13-3 at number one singles, 7-0 in the GLVC. The native of Greenwood, Indiana, also advanced to the ITA Great Lakes Regional quarterfinals during the fall and was the only number one player in the GLVC to go undefeated in conference action.

As Epkey was beginning his collegiate career, Weston Phillips was ending his. Phillips was second on the team with an 18-6 singles record, becoming USI’s all-time leader in singles victories with 81. He also was 9-4 at number two singles, going 7-1 in the GLVC.

Returning to anchor the middle of the singles line-up are senior Nim Shetty at number three and junior Ryan Hughes at number four. Shetty went 14-8 overall in 2003-04 and was a strong 7-4 at number three singles, 4-1 in the GLVC.

Hughes, the only returning member of the singles line-up with Phillips, was 10-10 overall in singles. He was 6-5 at number four singles, going 3-1 in the GLVC.

Brown returns a pair of seniors at the bottom of the USI line-up in Evan Luttrell and Kyle Taylor, who were interchangeable at number five and six singles. Luttrell was 13-10 as a singles player, going 6-3 at number five and 4-5 at number six, while Taylor was 8-16 overall with a 1-8 record at number five and 3-3 at number six.

The biggest changes for Brown in 2003-04 were at doubles where he did not return one combination from 2002-03. He used the 10 different combinations during the fall before settling on three teams for the spring.

USI became especially strong at number two and three doubles. Epkey and Taylor combined at number two to 12-4 overall and a strong 7-1 in the GLVC, while Phillips and Luttrell 11-2 at number three and 5-1 in GLVC action.

Hughes and Shetty were USI’s combination at number one doubles, posting solid 12-9 overall record. They also were 8-8 at number one doubles in dual matches, going 6-2 in conference play.

In addition to the returning players that anchored the line-up last year, the Eagles are returning senior Shaun Skelton, junior Scott Foster, and sophomore Colby Botha.

The Eagles line-up will be even stronger with the addition of freshmen Jarrod Epkey and Andrew McGuire, both from Center Grove High School (Greenwood, Indiana).

Jarrod Epkey, who joins his brother Joe on the squad, was the 2004 state champion, and was named All-State and All-Conference each of his four seasons at Center Grove High School. McGuire was a 2002 All-State performer in doubles and was a 2003 All-District player in singles.

McGuire and Epkey helped lead CGHS to the 2001 Indiana state championships; three straight sectional, regional, and county championships; and to the 2001 and 2002 Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference championships.

2003-04 Preview

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