SPARTANBURG, S.C. – “Tough competition brings out the best in players that are well prepared,” says head coach Rod Ray. The Wofford men’s tennis program will begin preparing for their spring schedule in two weeks. After a rigorous fitness test and training program, the team will compete in five fall tournaments before the spring season.

This year’s team returns all seven starters from last season and should benefit from numerous new players as well. Rod Ray, head men’s tennis coach comments, “Having competition to make the starting lineup is hardly ever negative and this year’s squad will enjoy competitive depth.” Last year’s team tied for fifth place out of eleven teams in the always tough Southern Conference. After finishing in third place the previous two years, the team was disappointed with their conference match record and is working to pick it up a level.

The 2010 team should benefit from experience. Of last season’s returning top seven, three will be seniors. Returning senior captain Paul Bartholomy, who played most of last year at the number four spot, states, “After fighting hard for the past three years, I know our team comes into this season with high hopes and expectations for winning, and we have every intention of doing so.” Rising senior Michael Schecter# of Rome, Georgia has taken on more of a leadership role as well. Schecter comments “You can expect the team to be full of energy, tenacity and Terrier-like doggedness.” This season will mark one of the first times Wofford men’s tennis has returned a complete starting lineup.

“We are ready,” says Coach Ray. “The team did a better job of preparing this summer. Many of them really stepped up this summer and made the commitment that it takes to get better. They demonstrated a burning desire for competitive toughness. We now have an environment where the players will really push each other to raise the bar. We will be addressing many individual needs, but the core energy will be team driven.”

On the opening weekend of the spring season, which rolls out January 15th, the 2010 tennis program first faces Clemson, and stays on the road to face USC, January 16th. The squad will follow with eight additional non-conference matches before the first conference match against 2010 Southern Conference Champion UNCG , March 5th. After opening up conference play in Greensboro, the team will stay on the road for the next three conference games, facing: the Citadel, Georgia Southern and College of Charleston. March 27th will be the first home conference match in Reeves Tennis Center as the Terriers match up against Davidson. Three days later the Terriers will face off against Furman at home. The tennis program will have their final away conference match in Elon, April 9th and return home to finish out the final three conference matches against Chattanooga, Samford and Appalachian State.