By Andrew Hornback

Being the only senior on the University of Louisville men’s tennis team is a scenario embraced by Robert Rotaru.
Rotaru is the sole remaining player from the 2006 Big East Championship team and is looking to add another ring to his finger before the end of his collegiate tennis career.
“I would love to win the Big East my senior year, and I think we have enough talent to do it, especially if the younger guys play well,” Rotaru said. “They’ve asked to see my ring before. I usually leave it at home, but I get some questions about it and what it was like to win the Big East from my teammates.”
Rotaru is doing his part to accomplish his goal of another Big East Championship. He captured the Flight A singles title at the Louisville Fall Invitational earlier this month, in what head coach Rex Ecarma called one of the toughest draws in the history of the invitational.
In the semifinals and the final, Rotaru dropped the first set to his opponent before winning the last two.
Rotaru’s semifinal match was against Brian Livingston of Illinois, who had eliminated defending champion Alejandro Calligari in the previous round, and was noted by Ecarma to be one of the hardest hitters in the tournament.
“What Robert did was push Livingston to a third set, and he [Livingston] didn’t want to be there,” Ecarma said. “Robert is one of the most fit players in collegiate tennis and can go the distance in any match.”
Rotaru has found success in doubles play this season, particularly when paired with sophomore Alejandro Calligari. Although they were eliminated earlier than Ecarma expected in the Louisville Fall Invitational, he remains optimistic about the potential they have together on the court.
“It was surprising they lost early, but the team from Toledo played an unbelievable match,” Ecarma said. “Those two [Rotaru and Calligari] will be winning a lot more matches together though.”
 Rotaru should be a go for the Cardinal Open on November 15th; which will be the final match the team plays until the Spring semester.
For Rotaru, the biggest match of the year is April. 11 against Notre Dame, the defending Big East Champions. The Cards will have a chance to play the Fighting Irish right before the Big East Championships kick off a week later in Tampa, Fla.
The match could be the determining factor as to who gets the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
No matter what happens during the rest of the season, Rotaru understands his role on the team.
“I definitely feel like I have to be a leader and not just a player,” Rotaru said.
“I’m like a big brother to most of the young guys.”