Adjustments made, JMU enters spring season

Dukes look to overcome loss of courts, scholarships

MEGHAN MONTGOMERY / staff photographer Sophomore Margie Zesinger (left) and freshman Rebecca Vandereist (right) practice at Bridgewater College.

The men's and women's tennis teams have a bit of adjusting to do for their 2002 spring seasons. After losing both their scholarship funding and primary courts to the new Godwin parking lot, the teams have to step it up to maintain their places in the Colonial Athletic Association.

The men's team suffered a devastating loss with the graduation of Troy Stone ('01). Along with senior Andrew Lux, Stone ranked 44th in the nation in doubles in the fall season.
The team had expected Stone to wait until May to graduate, and was caught off guard by his early exit.

"We were really surprised to lose Troy; we found out about that only two weeks before Christmas," Lux said. "It was hard to replace him, but I'm positive about (sophomore) Clint Morris stepping in for him. He's a really competitive guy."

The team also is feeling the stress of losing scholarship funding from the university.

"It's difficult to maintain the necessary competitiveness without the scholarship funding," Lux said.
Coach Steve Secord said, "It's still a transition being one of the sports without scholarships. We are trying to figure out how and where we are going to be."

The team plays a schedule similar to its previous seasons, including top-ranked Virginia Commonwealth University. Returning with Lux and Morris are juniors Mike Hendrickson and Bryan Knehr and sophomores Craig Anderson and Colin Malcolm.

"All the guys are competitive, and it will be a lot of moving around from spot to spot to find their places. We are just trying to get our three teams together now playing with who they are comfortable with. When we switch around a lot, it's tough," Secord said.

The team faces similar competition as past seasons, and in its opening match last weekend against VCU, the University of Richmond and Norfolk State, it walked away with wins over Norfolk State.

The first meet of the spring season left the Dukes at 1-2 after falling to Richmond and VCU.

Secord said, "The guys are realizing they are better than they thought. They got confidence from that last match."

Its last home match against in-state rival Radford University on April 12 will prove to be an important one. However, the March 17 University of North Carolina- Wilmington match is what Secord thinks will determine who's in fourth and fifth in the conference.

"We have a hard-working group of guys. Hopefully I can get them to overachieve on a continual basis," Secord said. "They are working every day, and they are a fun group of guys. Though things don't always work out on the court, I enjoy their attitude and professionalism even when they are overmatched."

Lux added, "Though weak player-wise, we are a strong team through unity. After going through all the difficult losses, we are cohesive and want to win more."

The women's team has made up for the loss of the Godwin courts this season by practicing in Bridgewater.

"This is a slight disadvantage to us as we do not get much practice time for singles play," coach Maria Malerba said. "However, the team worked hard over the Christmas holidays, and I think we are ready for our early matches in January and February."

The team ended last season by winning the doubles championship title at the Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament for the first time in JMU history. Nationally ranked partners Sheri Puppo ('01) and Lauren Dalton ('01) graduated, however, and the team also has to fill voids left by Carol Culley ('01)and Sarah Granson ('01).

Stepping up for JMU is the lone senior, Liz Simon who played at an impressive No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. Juniors Shell Grover and Christy Michaux also bring experience and talent to JMU along with sophomores Margie Zesinger, Spencer Brown and Brittnay Rowley. Joining the team are promising freshmen Kristen Veith and Rebecca Vanderelst.

Malerba is positive about having another successful season, even though they also lost scholarship funding.

"Our team has a lot of depth, and with our new doubles combinations we will be competitive with even the nationally ranked programs," Malerba said.

In the opener of their Spring season the team plays their nationally ranked rival, the College of William & Mary this weekend in Williamsburg as the men's team takes on George Washington University in Washington, D.C.