Coach optimistic about tennis team's chances

by Laura Casamento editor in chief

It's going to be a rebuilding year.

Day, the veteran coach of Cabrini's men's tennis team, has lost some of his stronger players to last year's graduation and is starting over with younger, less experienced players this season.

However, he says, those younger players are progressing nicely, prompting him to place his team among the middle of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference's teams at the end of the season.

"We're going to do okay," Day said. "We're playing better and better every match."

Day lost seniors Dan Dotsey and Alex Corkhill, his No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, to graduation last year. However, sophomore captain Pete Pietranik appears ready to fill the No. 1 spot, with first-year student Greg D' Antonio, his No. 1 doubles partner, playing at No. 2 singles.

"[Pietranik] is playing really well," Day said. "He is undefeated at No. 1 singles, with a 3-0 record."

Pietranik and D' Antonio are also undefeated at No. 1 doubles, also tallying a 3-0 record.

"[D'Antonio] is 1-2 in singles," Day said. "He's had a couple of tough losses, but he's getting better and better each match."

The team has young and inexperienced players filling out the lower slots in singles competition, according to Day. However, he says, all have exhibited a great amount of potential in their early matches.

First-year student Frank Plum, who plays at No. 3 singles, is one such player.

"He's getting real strong," Day said.

At No. 4, sophomore Dan McConnell is in the midst of his first year on the team.

"He's done a very good job so far this year," Day said.

Although he has yet to win a match, Day is especially enthusiastic about McConnell's play against Alvernia this weekend. "He almost pulled one out," Day said.

Day cautions that the team's early record of0-3 is not an indication of the team's play this season.

"Our record is very misleading," Day said. "We have seen a Jot of teams that have really improved from last year."

Not that it is necesarily a bad thing, though.

"More parity makes the PAC look good," he said.

Day expects the majority of the team's schedule to be tough.

"Marywood should repeat as PAC champions," he said. "Eastern and Beaver should come in after them, and after that it's anybody's guess. We're all pretty much even."

The team is also trying to step up its playing ability by scheduling tough teams for its trip to Hilton Head, S.C., next week. Among those teams are MacAlester College, St. Thomas University, Hamline University, Savannah College and Elmhurst College. According to Day, Harnline is usually in the top 25 in the country among Di- vision III schools, with MacAlester and St. Thomas following closely.

'The competition is good for these guys," Day said. 'They're not afraid of the challenge."

For now, however, Day is happy with the future of the team. Not only is the team working hard, but he has four or five good recruits corning to Cabrini over the next few seasons.

"We're pulling in players from a much broader area of the country," Day said:" "They've been exposed to Cabrini through our trip to Hilton Head."

Day is also looking forward to the rest of the season.

"We're working hard and we're working well together," he said. "I feel pretty good about us. As of right now, or guys are playing real well in doubles, which is a little strange early in the season when you're just getting to know each other, but if we're playing that well together now, wait until the rest of the season."

Day is also not disc~ged by the earlyseason losses.

"Sure, the guys are getting killed early in the matches," he said. "But they're getting there later. The matches are coming out 8-6 or 8-5, which is a very close score, and the guys are hustling and working real hard. They're laying a strong foundation this year, and next year these guys are going to be the core of the team."