ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State men's tennis team is set to open their 2022 slate at home against Chowan University in the VSU Tennis Complex. The match is set for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18.
 

The Trojans were set to open their season last week against West Chester of Pennsylvania before having it cancelled then had their match against Salem postponed last Friday. The last time the Trojans saw the court was in the 2018-2019 season when Virginia State went 5-7-1. The last winning season the squad had under Coach Gene Thompson was in 2017 when VSU went 8-6 overall.
 

The Trojans have a fairly experienced squad comprised of four juniors, two sophomores and two freshman. The rookies of the team include Ameer Blythe of Laural, Maryland and Joshua Pologne of Castries, Saint Lucia. The sophomore squad includes Alan Diggs of Courtland, Virginia and Malik Satterwhite-Austin of Washington, D.C. The veterans of the team include Jalen Bell of Smyrna, Georgia, Laurance Britt of Chesapeake. Virginia, Ronald Dogan of Round Rock, Texas and Nigel Stewart of Waynesboro, Virginia.
 

Chowan is 1-4 this season after leaving the Hilton Head Spring Tennisfest 1-2 losing to West Libery and Davis and Elkins and winning against Berry. The Hawks are fresh off a loss to Francis Marion on Saturday, March 19. Santino Jose Sormani leads his team with a 4-1 singles record as he is currently on a four-match win-streak. The Trojans are 1-10 against the Hawks in matchups dating back to 2012. After winning the first matchup in 2012, Chowan won 10 matches straight. The Hawks won the last seven matchups 9-0.