The Penn State Behrend men's tennis program enters the upcoming 2010 spring season with high expectations of adding another AMCC Championship trophy to the case. Last season, the blue and white, under the direction of Head Coach Jeff Barger claimed the 2009 AMCC Championship. Behrend registered 22 conference tournament points to second place Penn State Altoona and Frostburg State's 16. Behrend posted a 12-7 overall record and cruised to a perfect 8-0 mark in regular season league play.
The 2010 squad will be loaded with experience and determination as they enter the season with a strong desire to add to the collection of AMCC crowns from 1998, 2004, 2008, and last season.
Barger said, "We will have some experience in singles, but will need to get better in doubles to be a good team," said the twelfth year coach. "Some new players will need to step in and contribute right away. We have great team depth right now and I am very excited to get started."
After being tested early last season with a top notch schedule during spring training in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the blue and white utilized the experience to rally with a 9-1 mark to close out the regular season and then earn the conference's top prize.
"We have nine returning experienced players," continued Barger. Behrend will have to move forward and attempt to replace senior graduate James Getty who was a two time All-AMCC selection during his years in the program. Behrend will return the two time AMCC Player of the Year in Elliot Blackstone. Blackstone was the 2009 AMCC champion in both the top flight singles and in doubles.
Also, providing veteran leadership will be a set of seniors including Kelly Manning (Sharpsville/Kennedy Catholic), Shane Mosier (Kersey/St. Marys), and Brad Nagel (West Alexander/McGuffey). Manning has claimed numerous doubles wins over his first three seasons and has the ability to play both the singles and doubles game. Manning teamed up with John Michalko (Washington/McGuffey) to win third flight doubles at the AMCC Championships in 2009. Mosier is prepped to have another outstanding season for the Behrend Lions and also has a Rookie of the Year title on his resume. Nagel was the Behrend Lions 2007 Most Improved Player and plans on continuing to bring that success into the 2010 season. Nagel and Mosier are both team captains of the 2010 team.
A talented group of five juniors return to the program and look to add depth as well as a winning spirit to the squad. All will be expected to hit the courts with an improved game and meet the new expectations placed on defending the program's conference championship. Jacob Fling (Erie/Villa Maria), Jason Grosch (Warren/Warren), Blackstone, Michalko, and Juan Santiago (Erie/Central) will all be in the line-up mix. Blackstone is the headliner of the group. He claimed several postseason honors in 2009 that included being named the AMCC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. After setting school records for most single season singles and doubles wins, he was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player for the second time. Henderson is another AMCC All-Conference performer and teamed with Blackstone to establish the new mark for doubles wins. Michalko was extremely valuable in doubles play in 2010 and looks to continue that success into this season, while Fling, Grosch, and Santiago are trying to find their way into the line-up after earning an important season of collegiate experience last year.
Four sophomores come back for their second season under Coach Barger and look to make an impact early for the Behrend Lions. Peter Bissert (Pittsburgh/Seton LaSalle), Jon Hamm (Pittsburgh/Seton LaSalle), Matthew Kiser (Grove City/Grove City), and Travis Parke (Erie/Seneca) make up the 2010 second year performers. Kiser, Hamm and Parke are all new to the Behrend Lions tennis program. Kiser has the ability to make a strong impact in singles this year while Hamm will see significant playing time. Bissert will once again see time in doubles and will look to contribute success to the program.
Four freshmen players make up the 2010 recruiting class which includes Chris Galvin (Erie/McDowell), and Antou Jura (Oakville/Ontario). Galvin has the ability to step right in and be a starter in both singles and doubles. The incoming freshman will be mentored by the upperclassman to learn what it takes to compete for a conference championship.
"We have a couple of freshmen that could compete for court time right away," said Barger. "This is a very skilled group, and at one point or another they all could push for playing time."
The 2009 schedule begins with a tough road match at Baldwin-Wallace on February 13. Then Behrend hosts a pair of President's Athletic Conference members in Waynesburg College and Grove City before making the trip south to Hilton Head, for their annual spring training trip. Behrend will play five matches during the spring training week. The Behrend Lions are scheduled to compete against Muskingum, Emory & Henry, Catawba, Eastern Nazarene, and Gordon.
"Our matches in Hilton Head are always a highlight on our schedule because we play several talented teams from across the country," said Barger.
Upon returning the men will embrace a five match home stand, where they will play conference matches against Pitt-Bradford, Pitt-Greensburg, Frostburg State, and Penn State Altoona. The AMCC Championships will round out the 2010 season for the men. Championships are to be held on April 17-18 at the Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford, PA.
Coach Barger believes the blue and white has potential, but more work needs to be done before hoisting a third straight AMCC Championship trophy. "I think we can hold our own," said Barger. "We will have to improve our doubles play to win the conference again and I feel confident that we will. "Hopefully we are where we want to be at the end of another successful season."
