WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Ivan Marrero Curbelo added another singles win to his resume last week at the ITF Futures M15 Winston-Salem to round out his first Fall as a Gamecock.
 
"At every event you have positives and negatives, and this event was the same," head coach Trey Morris said. "There were some ups and, unfortunately, some downs. He fell short to one of the best college tennis players in the country in Pedro Rodenas from Duke, but we had looks in that match. From there, we're just optimistic and excited about the things we saw that we can bring back to the training court and continue to work on developing."
 
Marrero Curbelo, a transfer from Saint Leo, downed Wake Forest's Martin Mazev, 6-2, 6-1, in the first round of qualifying in the Tar Heel State. He fought against Ishaan Ravichander in the second stage of qualifying before bowing out, 6-3, 6-2, versus the LSU Tiger.
 
The Las Palmas, Spain, native was pitted against the tournament's top seed in the opening round of the main draw. Rodenas, a Spaniard that is arguably one of the ten best collegiate tennis players nationally, dispatched Marrero Curbelo in two sets (7-5, 6-2) to end the Gamecock's run in Winston-Salem.
 
"We're pumped about some of the results that Ivan was capable of getting, but we know we still haven't seen the best from him yet," Morris said. "While he's trending in a good way and has brought some historical results to Jacksonville State, it's still not close to what his best can be. He's got a lot more left in the tank and a lot we can work on with him, both stylistically and from a work perspective. I'm looking forward to the Spring and all he brings forward to the program then."
 
Jax State's men will continue training throughout the Fall semester until the regular season kicks off in January. The Spring 2024 campaign will usher in a new era of men's tennis in Jacksonville, as the program enters its first regular season under Morris and its first as a member of Conference USA.

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