After a stellar performance last season, finishing 23-3 and 16th in the NAIA, the Aquinas men’s tennis team is looking forward to another solid season. Despite losing two invaluable seniors — Mike Rose and Patrick Grashorn — to graduation, the team expects to maintain their relative domination in area play.

“We lost two very good seniors after last year that really helped us out with our doubles,” said senior Jason Beydoun. “We’re really going to have to focus on our doubles a lot in practice this year.”

But the team isn’t worried. “We have to make the best of what we’ve got, no excuses,” said Beydoun.

Stepping up to leadership roles on the team this year will be Rose’s former doubles partner, senior Patrick Bruining — who has received All-American honors for the past two years — and Beydoun who received Academic All-American hon-ors last season.

Both players have been with the team for several years now and have the experience and consistency necessary to push the team not only in their play but in spirit.

The team is filled out this season by lone junior Jordan O’Neill, whose continued improvement and strong play should factor into many wins this season.

Three sophomores — Dan Doerrfeld, Nick Ludwig and Tuan-anh Tran — will also play major roles in team play this year.

Each received significant playing time last season and provides the team with a unique style of play. Tran relies on speed and consistent returns to fluster his opponents into making mistakes, Ludwig utilizes a more defensive style of play, while Doerrfeld’s aggressive play pounds his opponents with high-pace shots.

The team’s only freshman this year is John Telfer, out of Midland, Mich. Telfer played first singles as captain of his high school team and earned All-State recognition in Division 1, as well as a top 75 ranking in the USTA Midwest boys 18s.

Telfer is expected to make an immediate contribution to the teams’ success, so expect to see him on the court from the onset of the season.

The team is currently still working on setting its lineup for both singles and doubles, but if last season is any indication, Bruining, Beydoun and O’Neill should all play high.

Competition this season will be testing, as the Saints will have to make their way past tough local teams like Calvin College and Grand Valley State.

“Our biggest matches this year are going to be against Calvin, Hope, Grand Valley, Webber and Olivet Nazarene,” said Beydoun. “The city tournament is coming up, and that’s going to be with Hope and Calvin. It should be a good competition.”

The season officially begins with the City Tournament, which is to take place Feb. 15-16 at the Riverview Athletic Club. The first home match for the Saints will take place Feb. 20 at 2:00 p.m. against Albion.

The men’s tennis team has proven over the years that they are a force to be reckoned with, and this season should be no exception. “We’re going to focus on our weaknesses in practice,” said Beydoun. “When we play, we‘re going to leave it all on the court. We aren’t going to make any excuses.”