With a nucleus of players returning from last year and the addition of some talented first-year players, the Gulls expect to be competitive in 2004.
"We had a young team in 2003," said second-year coach Mark Herlihy. "With the exception of two juniors, the remaining players were competing in their first season of collegiate tennis. We should be a lot stronger in 2004."
Returners include Jon Matthews, Brian Goldmeier, and Richard Len. "Jon has a solid, all-around game and is a great competitor. He will be key for us this year," says Herlihy. "Brian has a lot of raw talent and great energy. He has the potential to develop into a strong player. Rich has very sound mechanics and is steady. He could help us out as well." Among the newcomers, Joseph Dudek, Andria Jokhtaberidze, Lars Muis, and Umut Akdag have shown promise.
The team competes during the spring against both Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) teams and area schools such as Salem State College, Rhode Island College, and University of Southern Maine. Each collegiate contest consists of six singles and three doubles matches, so depth will be an important factor in the team's success. The team practices and competes on six outdoor courts on Endicott's lower campus and, during inclement weather, uses two indoor courts in the Post Center's Field House.
Coach Herlihy has guided Endicott's women's tennis team to the CCC finals the last two seasons and was named CCC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year in 2002. "I'd like to build the men's program up to the point where we can contend for the championship," he said. "It will take some time, but I think we can lay a foundation this year. If the guys can play to their potential, we'll win some matches."
Herlihy, a former Massachusetts high school doubles champion, compiled a 66-1 record and was named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Tennis Team three times (1982-1984) when he played for Winchester High School. At Tufts University, he was an NCAA Division III National Champion and a 3-time All-American in track, but never gave up tennis and still plays competitively. He earned a Ph.D. in American Civilization at Brown University and is an Assistant Professor of History at Endicott.
Assistant Coach Anne Zammattio is a master's degree candidate at Endicott and teaches courses in the College's Hospitality Division. A native of Belgium, she played tennis extensively in Europe.
