By Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – After a 10-13 campaign a season ago, the Kalamazoo College men's tennis team is ready to begin the 2013-14 season.
To be correct, the Hornets have already played a tournament this season. The 2013 ITA Central Region championships were played from Sept. 27-30 at Kalamazoo College. Freshman Brandon Metzler advanced to the round of 16 in the main draw while freshmen Jacob Scott and Alberto Ayala won the consolation doubles draw. Scott also finished runner-up in the consolation singles draw.
Losing one senior from last year's team, Peter Rothstein, Alan Faber, and Mike Korn represent this year's senior class.
Rothstein finished with an 8-11 record at first singles and an 11-12 record at first doubles. Faber split time at fifth and sixth singles finishing with a combined singles record of 6-7. In doubles, Faber tallied a 9-11 record with the majority of the time spent at third doubles. Korn finished with a 7-10 singles record playing mostly third singles. The Rochester Hills native tallied a 5-7 record at third doubles.
David DeSimone is the lone member of the junior class. DeSimone went 11-10 playing either third or fourth singles a season ago as well as 9-12 at third doubles.
Robert Hudson, Connor Dalton, and Max Manley represent the sophomore class. Hudson tallied a 6-7 record in singles splitting time between flights five and six. Hudson and Manley teamed up for a 3-8 record at primarily second doubles.
The freshman class represents almost half of the team for the 2013-14 season. Eric De Witt, Jeremy DePree, and Spencer Navarre join Metzler, Scott, and Ayala to round out the six first years.
The Hornets begin non-conference play in 2014 on Feb. 1 when K hosts the Pheonix from Chicago. After a trip to Aquinas, Kalamazoo hosts Wis.-Whitewater, Ohio Northern, Wabash (Ind.), and Luther (Iowa). The Hornets then travel to Denison (Ohio) before their spring trip to Pennsylvania.
Kalamazoo then puts its 75-year conference championship streak on the line as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play beings with a Mar. 29 match against Trine University.
The Hornets have lost just three MIAA dual matches in the 472 matches played since 1935.
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