2012 Men's Tennis Season Preview

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - After being upset in the first round of the Centennial Conference playoffs in 2011, the Swarthmore men's tennis team looks to rebound in 2012 and reassert its dominance in Conference competition.  The Garnet, which earned an impressive 8-1 record in Conference play last season, returns all but one member of last year's team and appears poised to avenge last season's early exit.

The Garnet returns two All-Conference performers, as senior captain Max Bressman and sophomore Max Kaye teamed up to earn a second-team doubles nod last season after winning 12 matches as a tandem during the season.  Bressman gave the team eight singles wins, primarily out of third and fourth singles, last year, and Kaye earned nine singles wins, playing first, second, and fourth.

Senior captain Zak Kelm, an All-Centennial selection in 2010, returns after an eight-win season in singles .  Also returning to the Garnet lineup are sophomores Anthony Collard, who won 12 matches from the lower strings, and sophomore Preston Poon, who earned 10 wins, primarily out of fifth singles.

The team will also add four freshmen, as Carl DeFranco, Harrison Lands, Max Sacks, and Irving Stone will look to make contributions in their rookie seasons. Sacks and Stone in particular are coming off strong performances during the 2011 Fall season.

Head coach Mike Mullan will be on sabbatical for the 2012 spring season, and will be replaced by interim head coach Josh Schofield. The Garnet will open the 2012 slate at home against Stevens on February 25 (1:00 pm) before heading out west for a Spring Break trip to California.  While on break, the Garnet will play a challenging slate, including matches against No. 7 Kenyon, Division I Villanova, No. 15 Redlands, No. 5 Claremont, and No. 8 Pomona.The Centennial Conference schedule opens on March 22 as Swarthmore travels to face Ursinus.

2012 Centennial Conference Preseason Poll