"Last year was a difficult year," commented senior captain David Tuchmann. "We had a lot of fun but we were not able to play at the level of the top teams."

This year, new hope has arrived in the form of frosh Alex Wong and Darren Becker, who will be playing in the number one spot and two spots, respectively, according to head coach Don Long. Wong was ranked in the top 20 in the New England 18 and under Tennis Circuit. Becker was also highly ranked at number 22.

Matt Fox ’03 will also start, according to Long. Fox is expected to fill the number four spot on the team.

"[The team] has quite a different look from last year with the addition of the three freshman," Long pointed out. He defined the 1999 season as a "rebuilding process," when the team was composed of only one member of the regular singles lineup and three other letterwinners.

This past Saturday the team had its first match of the season, beating out the Coast Guard 5 —2.

Tuchmann said he was impressed with this victory.

"It was encouraging. I was really quite happy with the way people played," he said.

The line-up at the first meet included Wong, Tuchmann, Becker, Bryant Lee ’00, Fox and Andrew Tsui ’01.

Even though the team expects to be a lot stronger than last year, they’re looking at a rough season ahead as they go up against some tough competition.

"The NESCAC is by far the strongest conference," Long added. "Williams won the NCAA’s last year and Amherst, Trinity and Bates are all expected to be in the top 15 this year."

The team’s next match will be an away game two weeks from now, at Brandeis.

"This will be a really good first test with a team that we came close to beating last year," Tuchmann said.

Long said that so far, the pre-season figures have confirmed his high aspirations for the team.

"Pre-season we were ranked as high as twelfth in the east, which was a little bit of a surprise. If we can maintain that position it will be a fairly successful year."

Wong seemed quite hopeful about the team’s number 12 position. "I hope we can hold up to that and possibly even be higher," he said, "We are a pretty young team and hopefully our youth won’t hurt us."

Long said he feels that the team’s winter training has brought about some definite improvement over the fall.

"I feel encouraged that the guys have worked harder this winter than I’ve ever seen them in the past," he said.

Tuchmann said the team is looking forward to spending the second week of spring break in Orlando where both the women’s and men’s teams will compete in at least five matches in just seven days.