Feb 26, 2008

Men’s Tennis 2008 Season Outlook

Head Coach Marty Gilbert and his Philadelphia University men's tennis team are set to kick off the spring portion of the 2007-08 campaign on Wednesday, March 5th at Arcadia University. The Rams put together a solid 2-2 mark in the fall including a pair of wins over local rivals Chestnut Hill College and the University of the Sciences.

Leading the way for Gilbert this spring will be senior Anders Novesky, a three-year starter that ranks sixth all-time in school history with 62 career combined victories. A two-sport standout, Novesky will be playing his first tennis of the year in the spring after another stellar season on the soccer field for the NCAA Division I Rams in the fall. Last season, Novesky compiled 13 wins, playing at #1 singles and #1 doubles. "Anders is the best pure athlete on the squad," said Gilbert. "He combines strength and quickness with a competitive drive and his reflexes and speed make him an excellent doubles player."

Freshman Kyle Kaltenbacher, who replaced Novesky at #1 singles during his absence in the fall, registered a pair of victories while gaining valuable experience. A product of The Classical (Colo.) Academy, Kaltenbacher, along with Novesky, provide the Rams with a bona fide 1-2 punch - crucial to success at the NCAA Division II level. "In his short time with the program, Kyle has shown unlimited potential with a good singles mind and is a complete player with no obvious weaknesses."

In addition to Novesky and Kaltenbacher, Gilbert also returns senior Alex Richter, a native of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. A three-year starter for the Rams, Richter has collected 35 career victories entering the spring including a solid performance at the ITA East Regional in the fall. At the regional hosted by Bloomsburg University, Richter advanced to the second round in both singles and doubles play, solidifying his standing as a leader with the men's team entering his final campaign. "A very experienced senior, Alex is undoubtedly one of our team leaders," added Gilbert. "His quickness and love of the net make him a formidable doubles player."

Senior Boo Burnier also returns for the Rams this spring after picking up two wins in three singles matches in the fall. Burnier, who hails from Durango, Colo., notched 11 wins last year in his first season with Philadelphia University, one which Gilbert is hoping will serve as a springboard this season. "Boo is a very patient groundstroker with exceptional speed and just as importantly, has a never give up mentality on the court," said Gilbert of his senior.

Two others that Gilbert will rely on this spring are sophomore Mike Abate and freshman Tom McAvoy. Abate stepped in last season as a true freshman and posted nine victories. McAvoy, meanwhile, made an immediate impact, finishing the fall with four wins for the Rams, teaming with Kaltenbacher at #1 singles. "Mike is very strong from the baseline, has excellent mechanics on his strokes so he makes very few unforced errors," said Gilbert. "Tom, meanwhile, is the best pure doubles player on the team. A strong serve and volley player who can dominate a doubles match, he will also contribute in singles as he gains match experience."

Rounding out Gilbert's roster for the upcoming season is junior Borys Jarosz, sophomore Mario Bermeo and freshman Seppi Hutter. Jarosz and Bermeo are seasoned veterans for the Rams, having tallied 14 wins and six wins, respectively, a year ago. This season, Gilbert expects more from the duo, along with Hutter, a talented freshman who compiled a 6-3 overall mark during the fall, gaining valuable experience. "We have excellent depth in our lineup as we can insert Hutter or veterans Mario and Borys and still have exceptional strength from the lower part of the lineup. They are able to push the other player, which makes our lineup that much more formidable."

A challenging spring slate, complete with a five-match stretch during a spring break trip to Orlando, Fla., will provide a strong test for the Rams, but Gilbert is confident that his young squad will be up to the task. "We are looking forward to the upcoming spring season and I am optimistic that we will continue to improve."


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