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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s tennis team opens the 2011 season on Saturday with matches against Eastern Kentucky (11 a.m.) and Longwood (5 p.m.). Both matches will be played indoors at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on the Virginia Tech campus.

The 2010-11 edition of the Hokies looks to build upon four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with a talented and very deep lineup. Tech ended last season with a 16-8 record and a No. 24 national ranking, the highest final ranking in the history of the program. The Hokies were also ranked second in the tough Atlantic Region. Tech will have to replace senior Yoann Re, a two-time All-ACC selection, who concluded last season ranked No. 58 in the nation and No. 6 in the Atlantic Region. Re also was a participant in the NCAA Singles Championships for the second consecutive year and defeated five nationally ranked opponents last season. He ended his Tech career with 82 singles and 72 doubles victories.

This year’s team, No. 24 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason national rankings which is the highest preseason ranking in program history, will feature three seniors, five juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen. Depth is always a key in the tough Atlantic Coast Conference and the success of this season’s team will depend heavily on the continued progress of the underclassmen.

“This team has great potential as we only lost one player from last year and we gain Pedro Graber back after a redshirt year,” said Virginia Tech head coach Jim Thompson. “While we will certainly miss Yoann Re this year, I feel this team has the experience and the hunger to go further than any team in the history of the program.

“We need to play well on the road, as we have several tough tests early in the season. I look for the upperclassmen to really step up and contribute and lead this team.

“Certainly one of our continued goals is to advance to the NCAA Tournament, but I believe this group is shooting for much more than just making the tournament. This could be a great year for the Virginia Tech tennis program.”

Eastern Kentucky is 2-0 after opening the year last weekend with home victories over Union College (Ky.), 7-0, and the University of the Cumberlands, 6-0. The match against Virginia Tech will be the season-opener for the Lancers.

Live stats for both matches will be available at http://www.hokiesports.com/mtennis/live/

Video of the Eastern Kentucky match only will be available on Hokies All-Access.

For updates on Virginia Tech men's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MTennis).