The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
JANUARY 2020 ■ 73 Luque, a sophomore transfer from Oklahoma and native of Spain, and freshmen Robin Catry (France) and Martins Rocens (Latvia). "All three of those guys can contribute, for sure, this year and be a part of what I think is a really exciting squad," Spencer noted. Heading into this spring, the coach is opti- mistic that his team will continue to build off last year's successes. "Expectations is a tricky word," Spencer noted. "Kind of looking out at the landscape, we are in the toughest conference for tennis in the country. Everybody is improving, ev- erybody is reloading, everybody is gunning for a big spot. "I know we finished in the semis for the ACC Tournament last year. We finished fourth in the league. At the same time, it's a new year, there are new guys on the teams for all the squads. "We're excited. We want that competition. We'll see how everything shakes out. The margins are so small. It's going to be one of those day-to-day, match-to-match [situa- tions], whoever performs better and handles the pressure the most is going to be the team that comes out on top." ■ Les Merritt CPA-CFP NCSU Graduate Certified Public Accountant Certified Financial Planner Your CPA! les@lesmerrittcpa-cfp.com (919) 269-8553 1014 N. Arendell Avenue Zebulon, NC 27597 You worked your way through NCSU, one of America's great universities. Why then, would you take your professional or personal taxes to someone who graduated from Taxmart U? Greensboro Fayetteville 336-996-6060 910-483-5975 www.transourcetrucks.com Truck & Trailer Centers The Wolfpack's dealer for the award-winning Isuzu Truck Newcomer To Watch Sophomore Rafa Izquierdo Luque Last year, Izquierdo Luque spent the dual season with Oklahoma. Prior to that, he was a two-time Spanish national champion in doubles, a Spanish Nationals finalist in 2018 and a European Singles finalist for 16-U. He played three matches at Okla - homa, going 2-1, before transferring. This fall for the Pack he went 5-3 in singles, tying for the sec- ond-most victories on the squad. Noting The Pack • NC State signed three international players to its program for this season in Spain's Rafa Izquierdo Luque, France's Robin Catry and Latvia's Martins Ro- cens. "To me, tennis is an international game," NC State head coach Kyle Spencer noted. "I think people have seen our rise in the rankings. They can see guys like Alexis [Galarneau] doing well. "Not only is the draw at NC State from a national perspective, but it's at an international perspective. We look for the best players and that's why we're getting a lot of attention nationally and internationally." • When discussing NC State's challenging spring schedule, Spencer noted: "We don't shy away from competition." Among the highlights of the slate will be defending national champion Texas coming to Raleigh. NC State will also play at Michigan and South Carolina, a pair of teams that made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That's in addition the gauntlet of the ACC. Both UNC and Wake Forest made it to the NCAA semifinals. Virginia lost in the Elite Eight to the Demon Deacons. "I'd put our schedule up against just about anybody," Spencer said.