Youth Brigade

By DAVID DUNCH

Attempting to play doubles at night with my friends - the key word being attempting - I consider myself an expert in the field. Well, not really. No one is going to compare my wicked groundstrokes to John McEnroe's (although I have the cursing and tantrum throwing down). However, I do know for a fact that Head Coach Sean Burns' men's tennis team has begun its 2000 season, looking to buioff of past performances with hopeful expectations of a successful new season.

The 11-man squad is comprised of three seniors, one junior, three sphomores, and four freshmen.

The team is looking for leadership and continued strong play from the seniors, Scott Watters, Lars Nelson and Marcell Hlousek, as well as contributions from highly-touted freshmen Adam Lewis and Ryan Livesay, both of whom were big-time high school players in Oregon."Ryan had the best fall of anyone on the team," Burns said. "We're very excited about the future of men's tennis at Santa Clara."

Last weekend, the team took part in the Santa Clara Classic. It was the first time any major tournament was held on the school's campus during Coach Burns' tenure, do in large part to the beautiful new tennis complex across from Leavey Activities Center. However, foul weather plagued the event, forcing play to sometimes be sent indoors and/or cancelled.The team will next be in action at home Friday, when they take on Hawaii.

If you're not in the mood to watch men running around in shorts, then maybe you want to check out the women's tennis team, who will face Hawaii at home on Thursday at 2 p.m, their first action of the new year.