February 28, 2008

Malone Men’s Tennis Looks To Make Fifth Straight Trip To Postseason Tourney In 2008

The Malone College men’s tennis team recently opened the 2008 season seeking another strong campaign.  Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Tom Brown, the Pioneers have experienced continued improvement each of the last four seasons and have opened with a 3-2 record in the early going of the ’08 season with both losses coming against outstanding programs.
  
In 2006, the Pioneers advanced to the regional tournament semifinals and finished just under .500 with an 11-12 record and a solid 5-3 mark in the American Mideast Conference.  Last season, the squad finished 9-8 overall record and had a 3-3 mark in conference play.  Malone again advanced to postseason play as a result of their regular season efforts but fell to top-seeded Walsh University in the first round of the tournament.  The 2008 squad will not only have its sights set on making a fifth straight trip to the NAIA Region IX/X Tournament this spring but will also have hopes of advancing much deeper into the postseason. 

Two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and one freshman make up the 2008 roster.  This year’s squad sports experience and is deep with plenty of talent from top to bottom.  Everyone returns from a year ago and the team has also added a very solid player in freshman David Cairns (Strongsville, OH).

Back to anchor the #1 singles spot is senior Jason Christman (Canton McKinley H.S.), who received All-AMC singles honors after posting an 8-10 record at the #1 singles position last season.  Juniors Kyle Bowers (Norwalk H.S.) and Tim Springirth (Erie, PA) also put together strong 2007 seasons.  Bowers led the Pioneers in wins with an 11-7 record from the #2 singles spot while Springirth, the team’s #3 singles player last year, compiled a 10-8 singles mark.  The two also combined for #1 doubles and ended the season 8-10 overall.  Bowers has had an excellent start in the early going of ’08 with a 4-1 singles mark.

Cairns, a “great addition to the team” according to Brown, has earned the team’s #3 singles spot this year and has posted an equally impressive 4-1 mark in singles through the five matches prior to the team’s spring break trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina.
  
Nathaniel Rodd (So., Canton, OH) is competing at the #4 singles slot for the team this year after a solid campaign last year having teamed with Christman for a 10-7 #2 doubles mark in 2007.

Senior Dan Yard (Louisville H.S.) and sophomore Tim Frazier (Beaver Falls, PA) competed at #5 and #6 singles, respectively, last season and posted 5-12 and 8-10 marks.  With the addition of Cairns at #3 this year, Yard and Frazier have been splitting time at the #6 singles spot this year.  In addition, sophomore Josh Fisher (Louisville H.S.), also a member of last year’s squad who saw limited doubles action, will again see some action at #3 doubles this year.
  
“We have everyone back from last season,” said Brown, “and we’ve added a tremendous player in (freshman) David Cairns.  We’re definitely a better team this year and we’re counting on having an outstanding 2008 season.”
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