With spring just around the corner, the men's tennis team is getting down to business.
But this season, the Jumbos have embraced a new mantra, based on Rule No. 76 of the 2005 movie "Wedding Crashers": no excuses, play like a champion. And with a healthier squad, a new coach at the helm, and a win in their season opener against MIT last night, the Jumbos are well on their way.
Tufts took a close match down to the wire and came away with a 4-3 victory on the strength of junior Sean McCooey's late win at the No. 6 position. The win was the first over MIT for any of the members of the team, and also marks the first time the team has started 1-0 since the 2002-2003 season, having lost last season's opener by the same score to Bates.
"We're really pumped up about it," junior Matt Gallin said. "We're really excited to go out 1-0 and to get into the season with this win under our belts."
Last year the Jumbos battled continuously with injuries, resulting in an underachieving 6-7 season record. The team hopes to improve on the fall's results under the leadership of new head coach Doug Eng. Eng replaces veteran coach Jim Watson, who retired before the start of the fall season after earning 200 wins in 24 seasons.
Eng, who coached the men's and women's squash teams for more than a decade, was named head coach of women's tennis last season, guiding the team to a No. 17 national ranking. This season, however, Eng has switched again, and is now with the men.
Eng's goals for the season include keeping the team healthy and playing its way to a top-25 ranking and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Senior Paul Roberts shares the captain's role with two other senior veterans, Jon Rubenstein and Ben Alexander. Though Alexander was sidelined last year with a nagging case of tennis elbow, Rubenstein proved to be one of the most versatile players on the team, shifting play between the third through fifth spots on the roster. Rubenstein also filled in with several doubles pairs throughout the season, though the Jumbos had less team success in doubles, as just one pair finished with a winning record.
The contributions of the tri-captains will be crucial for a successful season.
"The captains are going to have to step up every match in order to win the close matches," Roberts said. "We personally put the responsibility on our shoulders to help the team get those decisive key points."
The trio will be supported by a strong returning cast, including the only two Jumbos to finish last season .500 or better. McCooey (10-5) and sophomore Will Fleder (10-10) both advanced to the semifinals in the NESCAC Tournament last season McCooey was also the only player to log a victory in the team's matches against Williams and Trinity. After playing singles matches ranging between the second and fourth spots on the ladder last year, junior Corey Keller will battle for a No. 1 or No. 2 position this year, and will likely be paired with Roberts at first doubles.
The team also returns Gallin, Corey Keller, Craig Kunkes and sophomore Kenny Leavitt.
Three freshmen, Vinh Tran, Drew Frankel and Brian Love, join the Jumbos old talent this season, replacing graduated seniors Rifat Perahya and Adam Yates, who, while talented, were held short of their potential last year with
injuries.
"Vinh, Drew and Brian will add depth to the team in the upcoming years," Roberts said.
The team also is now preparing for a spring training trip to Los Angeles, where the Jumbos will face off against Point Loma, Occidental, and last season's No. 24 Chapman.
"This year is going to be a good year for the guys," Eng said, "We are going to try and stay healthy while winning the big matches that I know the team can pull off. We are the underdogs in some of the matches so that should be a little added incentive to pull off some big upsets this season."
