UNM tennis hosting Kennedy Classic

The University of New Mexico men’s tennis team kicks off its spring season Friday facing Cal Poly in round one of the second annual Jack Kennedy Classic.

Friday’s match begins at 3 p.m., and the tournament continues through Sunday. Cal Poly will face East Tennessee State at 2 p.m. on Saturday. UNM takes on East Tennessee State on Sunday at noon. All matches will be played at UNM’s McKinnon Family Tennis Center.

Kennedy handed out the trophy at last year’s inaugural event after New Mexico swept UT Arlington and Gonzaga. Kennedy passed away in November but family members will be on hand Sunday to hand out the winner’s trophy.

The Lobos are coming off a successful fall season, going 58-30 in singles and 16-15 in doubles. Fans can expect returning Mountain West Player of the Year Arda Azkara to continue as the No. 1 player for UNM. Ankara, ranked No. 122 nationally, is undefeated in home matches at No. 1 singles in his two-year career..

All-conference singles honoree Aram Noroozian is back after a 7-2 fall campaign, and Georgio Samaha, who led UNM with 25 singles wins a year ago, went 8-2 in the fall.