2003 Preview

UMass Dartmouth men’s tennis team enters 2003 season with only two starters returning

(DARTMOUTH, MA) – Even if first-year UMass Dartmouth men’s tennis coach Tom Mendell had everyone returning for the 2003 season, extending the Corsairs’ seven-year run as Little East Conference men’s tennis champions would not have been easy. Losing five of the team’s top seven players from a 12-2 team a year ago has made Mendell’s first season one filled with challenges.

“We are going to be hard pressed to captured the LEC title again this year after losing so many top players from last year,” said Mendell, who took over the men’s team this season.

The 2003 Corsairs will lean heavily on a pair of experienced veteran junior co-captains, Todd Cabral (Dartmouth, MA) and Dan Cohen (Chelmsford, MA). A pair of sophomores last season, Cabral and Cohen were among the heroes for the Corsairs as the captured their seventh straight LEC men’s tennis title last spring. Cabral and Cohen captured the #2 doubles championship and Cabral later won the #3 singles LEC championship.

Cabral had the Corsairs’ best record in singles last season, posting a perfect 14-0 record, the most victories on the team in 2002. Cohen was one win behind Cabral with 13 wins against only one loss. Cabral and Cohen were the Corsairs’ top doubles team with an 8-1 record.

“They should both have excellent years,” said Mendell about his co-captains. “The key to our season is going to be if Chris Allen (Ashburnham, MA), Ryan Paul (Fall River, MA) and Patrick Martel (Arlington, MA), along with Brendon Bowers (Somerset, MA) can continue their improvement, we could have a successful season.”

Outside of Cabral and Cohen, none of the Corsair players who return had a significant amount of playing time last season. Bowers, Andy Cottrill (Mattapoisett, MA), Martel, Kevin Weng (Boston, MA) and Paul all saw limited time on the court during the 2002 season.

Mendell is also hopeful that a few newcomers to the program will be able to make a contribution this season. Allen is a senior, playing at UMass Dartmouth for the first time as is junior Julio Hamel (Dartmouth, MA) and freshman George Kalivas (East Dennis, MA).

UMass Dartmouth will open the 2003 season on March 27 when the Corsairs host Salve Regina University at 3:00 p.m. Among the Corsairs’ toughest matches this season will be competition against LEC rivals Southern Maine (April 5), UMass Boston (April 16), Rhode Island College (April 19) and Western Connecticut (April 26).

UMass Dartmouth will try to extend its string of LEC men’s tennis titles to eight in a row on May 2-3 when the Corsairs travel to Western Connecticut State University for the annual LEC championships.