FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's tennis program enters a 2019-20 season filled with promise this weekend at the Joe Hunt Invitational.
 
The Patriots will compete in Annapolis, Md., Friday through Sunday in a series of tournament-style singles and doubles draws. Action begins Friday at 10 a.m., Saturday at 9 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
 
Mason will be joined at the event by student-athletes from host Navy as well as Christopher Newport, St. Bonaventure, George Washington, Mary Washington, Temple, Georgetown, Youngstown State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Richmond Coppin State and Morgan State.
 
The Green & Gold return four of six starters from last season's banner campaign, in which Mason captured its most Atlantic 10 victories (4) since 2014-15 and matched the program's best ever A-10 Championship seed (#6).
 
The Patriots will be led by 2019 All-Atlantic 10 First Team selection Edward Ayers. In 2019, Ayers posted an impressive 10-6 dual record while leading Mason at the No. 1 singles position. He notched three Atlantic 10 victories, including wins over A-10 Player of the Year Jordan Benjamin (Dayton) and First Team All-A-10 selection Nathan Perrone (Saint Joseph's). Benjamin had not lost an A-10 match in three seasons prior to his matchup with Ayers.
 
Ayers, a senior, will look to lead the Mason charge alongside fellow senior Jakob Nielsen, who has been a stalwart in the Patriot lineup since his freshman campaign. Switching between No. 2 and No. 3 singles in 2018-19, Nielsen posted a solid 10-6 dual mark and caught fire at the end of the campaign, winning 10 of his final 13 matches.
 
Junior Ryan Charles burst into the Mason starting lineup last season and became a consistent presence for the Patriots at the No. 1 doubles position alongside Pally Ray. Charles and Ray combined to capture nine dual victories, including six at the No. 1 spot. Charles also captured four dual singles triumphs, including an A-10 Tournament victory against La Salle.
 
Elsewhere, sophomore Erick Rivas will look to build upon an impressive debut campaign in which he amassed eight dual singles victories and a 3-1 singles record in A-10 competition. Rivas clinched the 4-3 win at La Salle last April with a gutsy performance at No. 6 singles.
 
Mason welcomes back sophomores Chanasorn Nakaurai and Michael Pollatos, who combined to post a 6-4 dual singles mark, while Pollatos also went 6-5 overall in doubles. They will be joined by senior Luke Maxwell, who posted a 5-4 mark in dual doubles last season.
 
In addition to the returning student-athletes, the Patriots also will welcome five talented players to the roster this semester.