COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (16-2) vs. ELON PHOENIX (14-4)
Match #19 • Monday, March 24, 2019 • 3 p.m. ET
CofC Tennis Center at Patriots Point • Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
 
CHARLESTON, S.C.  – The College of Charleston men's tennis team open a six-match home stand with a Monday showdown against Colonial Athletic Association rivals Elon. The Cougars and Phoenix begin doubles play at 3 p.m. with The College defending an eight-match win streak, seven at Patriots Point, and a 16-2 overall record.
 
Notables
• Charleston are on a eight-match win streak.
• Benedikt Henning has won 15-straight matches at the No. 1 singles spot.
• Henning is the current Colonial Athletic Association Singles Co-Player of the Week.
• Senior-freshman doubles duo, Benedikt Henning and Johnny Wang, are ranked No. 75 in the latest ITA/Oracle National Rankings.
• Henning is 15-1 in singles play on the year, Ben Cawston also on 14-1 in singles play.
• Ksawery Pociej is on a seven-match win streak on court five, 13-2 on the year.
• Robby Krick and Ben Cawston are 12-1 in doubles play and on a six match win streak.
• Charleston battled back for a come-from-behind 4-3 win to hand UNC-Asheville their first loss of 2019.
• Freshmen Ben Cawston and Johnny Wang levelled and then won the match in three sets.
• The Cougars fell in their season opener to ACC powerhouse Virginia Tech before rattling off eight straight road wins.
 
That Come-From-Behind Win
The Cougars rallied against previously unbeaten UNC-Asheville on March 9, two freshmen helping clinch the match in third sets. Benedikt Henning paved the way at the top of the lineup with a straight-sets win to level the match at 1-1 after the Bulldogs took the doubles point. With Ben Cawston and Johnny Wang heading into three sets and Charleston needing to win both, the freshman proved their worth. Cawston won on court three to level the match at 3-3, setting up the grandstand finish for Wang on court four who gave Charleston the 4-3 win.
 
Nationally Ranked
Doubles duo, senior Benedikt Henning and freshman Johnny Wang, are ranked no. 75 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in the latest ITA/Oracle release on March 19. The pair have opened the season with a 10-2 record, defeating No. 19 ranked Virginia Tech duo of Henrik Korsgaard and Alexandre Ribeiro, 7-6 (5-0), and Wofford's Bryce Keim and Omar Williams 6-4. The pair have teamed up since for a four-match win streak including wins over Lehigh, Radford, Chattanooga and Marist.
 
The Cougars
Charleston returns four letter-winners from a 2018 squad who finished 7-12 in the CAA Quarterfinal round. This year the Cougars are led by three-time All-CAA selection Benedikt Henning alongside junior Easton Thomas. Ksawery Pociej and Youssef Dabbabi are the sophomores while head coach Jay Bruner welcomes six newcomers including three-star recruit Robby Krick (Ashland, Ky.). The freshman class also includes Johnny Wang (Chinese Taipei), Andre Limon (Mexico City, Mexico), Ben Husum (Aarhus, Denmark), Augusto Gonzalez Bonorino (Tucuman, Argentina) and January signee Benjamin Cawston (Tasmania, Australia).
 
Senior Leader
Charleston will look to the leadership of senior Benedikt Henning, a three-time All-CAA selection, at the top of the lineup with an 11-5 singles record and 12-3 doubles record last year. The German garned First Team All-CAA Singles honors in both 2017 and 2018, earning All-CAA Second Team Doubles honors last year. Easton Thomas, 7-11 singles and 7-6 doubles in 2018, is the lone junior in a young Cougars roster.