by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

Despite loss of five former Little East champions,
Corsairs still have plenty of weapons for title defense

(Dartmouth, MA) -- If UMass Dartmouth is going to win a fourth consecutive Little East Conference men's tennis championship, the Corsairs are going to do it with some new faces on the roster. Coach Warren Preti enters the 1999 season with three veterans back for another season while losing five former Little East Conference champions from last year's 11-0 team.

But the news isn't all bad for the Corsairs because among the newcomers to the program are three transfer students, a foreign exchange student and a freshman, all of whom could find their way into UMass Dartmouth starting line up this season.

"We will have a radically different look to this year's team," said Preti, who is entering his 10th season with the Corsairs' men's tennis team.

Leading the returning veterans will be a pair a four-year players, co-captains and defending LEC champions, Chris Costa (Mansfield, MA) and Brian Sexton (Canton, MA). Costa is the defending #5 singles champion in the LEC and he posted a perfect 9-0 mark in singles last season. Costa teamed up with Sexton to win the LEC #3 doubles crown. Sexton finished last season with a 4-0 mark in singles action for the Corsairs.

The third returning veteran is Michael Gomes (Dartmouth, MA), who had an 8-2 record in singles last year and is the defending #3 LEC singles champion.

According to Preti, Costa will probably end up at either third or fourth singles and first or second doubles. Gomes is slated for second or third singles and second or third doubles, while Sexton could crack the singles lineup at either fifth or six singles and third doubles.

At the top of UMass Dartmouth's lineup, Preti expects some newcomers to the program to make an instant contribution. Transfer student Jim Green (Harwich, MA), freshman Tim Warren (Fall River, MA) and exchange student Eric Lempart (Karcsruhr, Germany) are all expected to crack the starting lineup in singles and doubles.

"Its going to be quite a battle for the top singles positions between Gomes (14-2 career), Green, Lempart and Costa (16-0 career)," said Preti.

The remainder of the singles' positions will probably go to Sexton, senior Pavel Rabinovich (Fall River, MA), junior David Coe (Jefferson, MA) or Warren, said Preti.

"The doubles combinations are going to be determined with Costa, Sexton and Gomes, all former LEC champions, teaming up with Lempart, Green Coe, and Warren. They have all looked strong in the early going," said Preti, who will be joined by assistant coach Pat Riccardi again this season. "I also expect Chris Lafratta (Revere, MA), Rabinovich and Derrich Rheaume (West Yarmouth, MA) to see considerable doubles action as well."

The Corsairs' primary goal for the 1999 season will be chasing a fourth consecutive Little East Conference men's tennis championship. Combined with the three previous championships captured by Preti's women's teams, UMass Dartmouth has captured the last six consecutive LEC tennis championships under Preti.

In an effort to prepare themselves for the LEC Tournament, to be held April 17 and 18 on the UMass Dartmouth campus, the Corsairs have upgraded their regular season schedule. Among the new opponents Preti said Connecticut College is a very solid program, and Salve Regina, the Corsairs' opponent in the season opener on March 26, is the defending Commonwealth Coast
champion. UMass Dartmouth will also face powerful Johnson and Wales, Division II Stonehill College, as well as LEC rivals Rhode Island College, Plymouth State and Southern Maine.

"Our in-door workouts have been very good," said Preti as he looks forward to the 1999 season. "Newcomers Green and Warren have been very impressive."

They may not look the same as they did last year but once the playing positions are determined, Preti's Corsairs should be prepared to challenge everyone on their schedule and make a strong run at another LEC title.