COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech men's tennis team begins its 2009-10 season this weekend at the Louisville Fall Invitational. The Golden Eagles will send four players to compete in the three-day individual tournament. Play starts on Friday, Sept. 11 and concludes on Sunday, Sept. 13. Team scores will not be kept.

Three returnees - Josh Girling, Alex Chen and Justin Kirstein - will make the trip to Louisville along with one newcomer - Nick Stafford. This will mark the first time that new Golden Eagles head coach Kenny Doyle will get to see his team in action.

Kirstein finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-8 overall record, including a perfect 8-0 mark in OVC play. He played the majority of his matches at No. 4 singles. In doubles play, Kirstein went 12-4 with partner Oscar Pachon at No. 3.

Chen was 9-9 overall a season ago in singles, including a 5-3 mark in the OVC. He finished with a 5-7 record at No. 2 and 4-2 mark at No. 3. Chen also played three matches at No. 2 doubles with Lloyd Harris, finishing with a 2-1 record.

Girling had a 10-16 record in singles competition last season, splitting time between No. 2 and No. 3. He paired with Dean O'Brien to compile a 13-6 overall record in No. 1 doubles. The duo finished 2-0 versus nationally ranked opponents.

The Louisville Fall Invitational is the first of six tournaments that members of the men's tennis team will compete in this fall. Tech will conclude its fall schedule at the Alabama Invitational, which takes place October 30 through November 1.