Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Tennis Adds Andrei Bubnov and Sergio Sanchez
12/10/2004 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Dec. 10, 2004
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - SIU head coach Missy Jeffrey continued her effort toward building a conference championship team with the additions of Andrei Bubnov and Sergio Sanchez to the Saluki men's tennis program this week.
"Both of these guys will add to the momentum we are building to eventually push us onto the national level," said Jeffrey.
Bubnov is one of the top players in Russia's junior and men's rankings at the age of 16. He has been ranked between #2 and #13 throughout his time in the Russian juniors. Bubnov is also ranked in the top 75 of the Russian men's rankings.
"Andrei Bubnov has been one of the top Russians throughout his junior years. I'm very excited about Andrei signing with Southern Illinois University for next fall, because he is a great player already, at only 16 years of age, and he has a lot of talent and potential to become an even better player," added Jeffrey.
"I believe we can really develop his potential here at SIU, and I believe he will really impact the success of our team. He has great character and is also an outstanding student."
Sanchez comes to SIU from South America, where he was ranked #1 in singles and doubles in the Chilean junior rankings, #2 in South America in doubles, and #26 in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world junior rankings in doubles.
In 2001, at 16 years of age, he was the number four player on the team that won the NEC World Youth Cup. Sanchez will transfer as a sophomore to SIU from the College of the Desert in California, where he has played #1 singles for a team that won the California Junior College Championships.
"Sergio Sanchez has been the best in the Chilean juniors and has proven to be among the finest doubles players in the world junior ranks. He will give our team a good boost this spring, and he is also a great person and a solid student," said Jeffrey.
The Saluki men open their spring schedule against Wright State and Lipscomb on January 22.
