by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

Corsairs lose four top players to graduation, will
rebuild around returning veterans and newcomers

Graduation may be the only thing that can slow down the UMass Dartmouth men's tennis team. Coach Warren Preti lost four Little East Conference singles champions to graduation following last year's 12-1 season.

But the two-time Little East Conference men's tennis champions from UMass Dartmouth should be right back in the title hunt again this season because the Corsairs' two returning veterans should combine with three other experience players and a host of talented newcomers to give the Corsairs what looks like another strong team.

"Given the graduation of four conference single champions, it will be difficult to duplicate last year's success," said Preti (66-26-1) about the 1998 season, his ninth as the Corsairs' men's coach.

Despite the losses to graduation, Preti has plenty to work with, including a pair of LEC champions from a year ago, as the Corsairs prepare to open their season on April 2 when they host Little East Conference rival UMass Boston at the Tripp Center.

Preti's top returner is last year's top singles player in the LEC and part of the LEC's championship #2 doubles team. John Guilfoy (Mansfield, MA) has been a member of the Corsairs for four seasons and is expected to play either first or second singles and #1 doubles again this year. Last season, Guilfoy posted a 12-1 singles record and was 4-2 in doubles competition, including the LEC #2 doubles title. Guilfoy is a two-time LEC singles champion, having captured the #2 singles title in 1996 as a sophomore.

Co-captain Anthony Baldman (Dedham, MA) is UMass Dartmouth's other returning LEC champion, having been part of last year's LEC championship #3 doubles pairing. In addition to returning to doubles this year, Baldman will move up in the Corsairs' singles rotation, playing at either #3 or #4 singles. A four-year player for the Corsairs, Baldman was defeated in the LEC singles championship last year, but still posted an impressive 9-3 singles record and was 3-0 in doubles competition.

The Corsairs will be counting on solid contributions from three other returning veterans this season. Chris Costa (Mansfield, MA), a two-year starter for the Corsairs, will return to action after sitting out last season. He was an LEC champion at #3 doubles in both 1995 and 1996 and should play either #5 or #6 singles and first or second doubles this season. Two years ago, Costa was 3-0 in singles and 6-3 in doubles, following a 4-0 singles and 7-2 doubles record in 1995.

Costa will be joined in the starting lineup by Mike Gomes (Dartmouth, MA), a second-year player, and Steve Gordon (Middletown, MA), a fourth-year player. Gomes was 6-0 in singles last year and will probably play #3 or #4 singles and team up for second or third doubles this season. Gordon should see plenty of action in both singles and doubles competition for the Corsairs. Last season he was 3-2 in doubles competition.

The addition of newcomers Jan Bussiek (Preetz, Germany), an exchange student from Germany, and Casey Hohne (Mattapoisett, MA), a Division I transfer student from Marist College, should go a long way towards filling in the gaps in UMass Dartmouth's singles rotation. Bussiek should play either #1 or #2 singles and #1 doubles this season and Hohne will probably fit into either the #5 or #6 singles position.

"Bussiek and Hohne are valued additions to the team this season," said Preti. "Bussiek and Guilfoy provide us with a very strong singles and doubles combination."

Preti will also be looking to a couple of other players, including third-year player Andrew Simino (Westboro, MA), Brian Sexton (Canton, MA), Pavel Rabinovich (Norwood, MA), David Coe (Jefferson, MA) and Chris LaFratta (Revere, MA) to provide the depth a successful team must have.

"I expect Rhode Island College, Plymouth State and Southern Maine to be major contenders with us for the LEC title," said Preti. "Our toughest non-league opponents will be Division II Stonehill College, Johnson and Wales University with its strong international lineup, and Salve Regina, perennial Commonwealth Conference champions."

UMass Dartmouth will play a 13-match schedule, including the Little East Conference championships on April 18 and 19th. Preti will be joined by six-year veteran assistant coach Pat Ricarrdi again this season.