BLOG: Jim Thompson, 20th Season

Virginia Tech men's tennis top moments over the past 20 years

March 5, 2018

In honor of Coach Jim Thompson's 20th season with the Hokies, we will be counting down some of the top moments of his career.

2005-06 Season: Arvid Puranen became the 10th Hokie to qualify for NCAA singles championship as he continued a five year streak for the Hokies of sending someone to the national event. Tech battled in an always tough ACC, facing 16 ranked opponents during the season and, ending with the season with 13 consecutive matches versus ranked foes. The Hokies claimed wins over Maryland, NC State and Georgia Tech with the last one coming in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Tech finished the season ranked 53rd by the ITA. Puranen tallied a 20-15 mark, including 14-10 at the one. David Rosenfeld was 22-10 while Albert Larregola posted a 21-14 record. Nicolas Degaldo finished 20-11.

2004-05 Season: In the team's inagural season in the ACC, the Hokies finished 13-11 and No. 52 in the final ITA​ standings. Stephane Rod became the ninth Hokie to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA singles championship, advancing to the second round. In addition, Rod became the first Tech player to be named to the All-ACC team after finishing with 20 wins on the year. Freshman Albert Larregola tallied 16 wins and sophomore Arvid Puranen chipped in 15. The Hokies recorded ranked wins over Miami, South Florida, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and Louisville.

2003-04 Season: The Hokies played their final season in the Big East with Andreas Laulund earning Player of the Year honors after posting a 21-12 overall record. He earned his second consecutive trip to the NCAA singles championship where he advanced to the second round. Laulund led a trio of Hokies with 20+ wins that season as Stephane Rod went 20-6 and Angel Diankov was 20-14. Tech had wins over No. 26, No. 42 and No. 45 during the season and finished the season winning 10 of the last 13 matches.

2002-03 Season: Tech compiled an 18-7 record on the season and finished the year ranked No. 52 in the nation. Jim Thompson was named both the Northeast Region as well as the Big East Coach of the Year. Four players posted 21 or more wins including: Andreas Laulun (27), Francis Huot (25), Angel Diankov (24) and Stephane Rod (21). Huot was 11-5 for the Hokies at the one during the dual slate. He became the fourth player in five seasons to earn a spot in the NCAA Singles Championship.

2001-02 Season: Virginia Tech earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in seven seasons after finishing 17-8 to rank 33rd in the final ITA standings. The Hokies knocked off ranked teams incuding: No. 43 Wake Forest, No. 75 Charlotte, No. 39 Rice, No. 15 VCU and No. 23 North Carolina. Saber Kadiri qualified for the NCAA Singles Championships and ended the year ranked 68th in the ITA and was named the ITA Regional Player to Watch. Kadiri won 27 total matches for the Hokies with teammates Stephane Rod, Davor Dupljakl and Francis Huot adding 25, 22 and 21, respectively.

2000-01 Season: Virginia Tech joined the Big East this year and the Hokies finished 3rd overall during the inagural campaign, claiming 17 dual wins. A group of underclassmen helped lead the Hokies with freshman Andreas Laulund and sophomores Francis Huot, Saber Kadiri and Michael Kurz as the four combined for 70 singles wins during the season. Laulund contributed 21 of those and was just behind senior Jay Bruner's 23. Tech recorded ranked wins over William & Mary, UC Irvine, and Virginia.

1999-2000 Season: The Hokies placed three on the All-Atlantic 10 team, Tech's final year in the league. Davor Dupljak, Gerard Baynhamand Jay Bruner all earned spots on the all-league team with Dupljack earning Player of the Year honors. It was the fourth consecutive season a Tech player was named the A-10's Player of the Year.

(L-R: Jay Bruner, Davor Dupljak, Gerard Baynham)

1998-99 Season: During Coach Thompson's first season with the Hokies, he guided the team to a 9-6 overall record and an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. Behind the play of All-American Aaron Marchetti, who finished the season ranked 15th, the Hokies downed ranked teams from NC State, VCU and Alabama, who the Hokies defeated to advance to the Sweet 16 round. Aaron's brother Adam had the match winning point against the Tide as the Hokies won it in a close 4-3 match. Both Marchetti brothers qualified for the NCAAs that season in both singles and doubles.

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