Oct. 23, 2008

GALLERY

Coral Gables, Fla. – The storied University of Miami men’s tennis program will holds its annual Alumni Weekend this Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with the University’s Homecoming celebration.

Festivities include past and present Hurricanes attending Saturday’s Homecoming football game between Miami and Wake Forest, as well as Sunday’s alumni gathering on campus at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center, where the alumni will play tennis and have lunch.

Over the program’s 78-year history, the Hurricanes have had 27 players earn All-America honors, including four NCAA singles titles. There have been three top-ranked players – and a top-ranked doubles pair in current Miami players Daniel Vallverdu and Carl Sundberg. In addition, Miami won 137-straight dual matches from 1957-64, marking one of the most impressive winning streaks in collegiate athletics.

Several Hurricane tennis players have gone on to the pro ranks – including Todd Widom (2001-03), Michael Russell (1996-97) and Luigi D’Agord (2006-07). However the greatest Hurricane tennis player may be Miami-native Gardnar Mulloy, who organized the first Miami tennis team in 1935. Following his UM career, the International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee went on to earn the No. 1 ranking in singles and doubles, as well as win multiple doubles titles at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

Many of these successful Hurricane tennis alumni are scheduled to attend.

“We want to continue to celebrate UM’s strong tennis tradition and honor our former players who have set the standard for our current student-athletes,” said fifth-year head coach Mario Rincon. “We enjoy keeping our alumni close to the program and appreciate their leadership.”