2002-03 Men's Tennis Outlook

07/15/02

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“Proud but not Satisfied”

That’s the motto for the 2002-03 William and Mary men’s tennis team which returns all eight players from last season’s squad that finished the season with a 16-10 record and a No. 53 national ranking. Head coach Peter Daub, entering his 10th season at the helm of the Tribe program, looks at last year as a success in that it enabled his players to take great strides towards what he views as their potential for tremendous achievements this year.

“2001-02 was a great year for change,” says Daub. “With six freshmen and two sophomores, the program took on a fresh look of enthusiasm and talent. We had a young team that always fought hard and laid a solid foundation as the cornerstone of our program for years to come. Three freshmen were named All-CAA and we gained confidence and momentum throughout the year. I see this as the start of a snowball effect that will lead our program to greater heights.”

Specifically, Daub and the team have set a pair of lofty goals for the upcoming season: a conference championship and a berth in the round-of-16 in the NCAA Championships. The achievement of these goals will clearly be dependent on maximum individual effort and performance that the players must strive for each practice and match throughout the year.

“It really depends on how aggressively our team wants to pursue these goals,” continues Daub. “On paper I feel that we have a team that can both compete for a CAA title and make the Sweet 16 at the NCAA level if we stay healthy and continue to improve and compete to our fullest.

“Athletes like to be challenged, and I feel that this is a team that wants to be recognized as our first league champion in over 10 years. In addition, another of the players’ goals is to play impressively enough to obtain a solid ITA ranking before the CAA Tournament begins.”

Daub has no doubt that his players already have demonstrated that they are willing to do whatever it takes to make this year one to be remembered.

“I’m impressed by the dedication that the eight returning players have shown in addressing their needs to become better players and to improve their bodies through fitness, weight-lifting and agility. I think they will profit from their commitment to play continuously through the summer in ITA and Futures events.”

Leading the Tribe towards reaching its goals will be the two most veteran players, juniors Joe Brooks and Geoffrey Russell. A solid player in the middle of the Tribe’s lineup, Brooks received second team all-league honors in doubles last year.

Already a three-time All-CAA honoree, Russell earned first team honors in both singles and doubles last season, piling up double-digit win totals at No. 1 doubles and at No. 2 singles. Through his first two seasons he holds the best career doubles winning percentage (.721, 49-19) in school history.

Also returning this season is a very strong group of six sophomores who together made up what may go down as the most successful rookie class in school history. The group totaled 108 singles wins and 81 doubles victories, establishing their mark throughout the Tribe’s freshman record book.

Heading the list is Sean Kelleher, who became the first W&M men’s tennis player to be named CAA Rookie of the Year and also received first team all-conference accolades in singles and doubles. He led the team with 25 doubles wins to go with an also impressive 23 singles victories.

Team captain Jeff Kader and Zack Malmgren also earned All-CAA honors, as they were selected to the second team in singles and doubles, respectively. Kader won a team-best 27 singles matches, including 11 of 14 in the spring, while Malmgren was second on the team with 26 singles wins.

Tying Malmgren with 26 singles victories was Alex Fish, who followed up a solid fall campaign with an incredible 14-match singles win streak to begin the spring season. Andrew James and Kal Patrick round out the sophomore class. While both saw limited action, they each held invaluable backup roles on the talented team.

Rounding out the Tribe squad will be incoming freshman Stephen Ward. A native of Douglaston, New York, Ward was his high school team’s top player the last two seasons and won his league’s singles championship.

As is the case every season, Daub has put together a difficult schedule for the 2003 dual season, with 17 teams that were ranked at the end of last year. Headlining the list is perennial national powerhouse Georgia, along with top-25 teams such as Auburn, Duke, South Carolina and CAA rival Virginia Commonwealth.

“As our talent level has increased, I look forward to competing with the top teams in the country with a mindset of winning matches and progressing to the top echelon in college tennis,” says Daub. “The players have asked for the strongest schedule possible and I have provided that so that they can embrace the challenge ahead of them.”

Daub believes that this team has potential for greatness and sums up his feelings for the upcoming season:

“Players play and coaches coach and I am committed to my role of improving each player on our team. I feel the players are also committed to improving daily and to never letting an opponent out-compete us, out-hustle us, or have more desire to win. We will go as far as each player and coach can fulfill their role with passion and desire. Our team is built on players who overachieve and embrace the challenges that are before us.”