Ward Melville kicks off season 2-0

WMHS Boys' Tennis

	SBU beats NY Tech
	Struzenberg extends win streak
	Adams scores first three career goals
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	Port Jeff, Comsewogue will compete
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	Ward Melville is favorite among Suffolk coaches
	Young Patriots have high hopes
Village Beacon Record
	Four teams eye playoffs
	CORRECTION
Times of Middle Country
	Baseball teams hope to be competitive

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April 01, 2009 | 02:04 PM
Ward Melville boys' varsity tennis head coach Erick Sussin lost nine seniors and eight starters from last year's county playoff team, and he is rebuilding his lineup with another large senior class. Some of his current players have been contributors as sophomore and juniors, while others are new to the program.

Sixty-five tennis players tried out for the squad and Sussin kept 18 on the varsity. "Even that's too many, but you never know what's going to happen over the course of a season," said Sussin. "People get hurt and people can improve quickly and move up. The only 10th grader to make the team was Connor Gruber, who is a solid player I expect to move into the lineup at some point."

Leading off for the Patriots at first singles is a returning senior who won All-State honors last year, Ben Coman. His brother Lawrence, also a senior, will play at second, third or fourth singles, depending on the match-ups. Senior Ben Sherman, normally working at second singles, "looks very strong this year," according to Sussin.

The versatile junior Kevin Kim can play singles or doubles, depending on where the team needs him most. "He's always going to be in my lineup somewhere," said Sussin. "Kevin's our most improved player."

The first-doubles team is a pair of steady seniors, Austin Castellano and Zack Kepes, who are off to a good start. Junior Yuval Calev and senior Alex Kerman are partnered at second-doubles. Seniors Justin Plank and Ryan Kattmeier, at third doubles, are new to the varsity, but have been very helpful to the cause, according to Sussin.

The Patriots are 2-0 after consecutive 6-1 wins over Patchogue-Medford and Comsewogue. They have an important crossover match coming up at Westhampton Beach on April 21, the team that eliminated the Patriots from the 2008 playoffs.

Bayport-Blue Point visited the brand new Ward Melville courts for the season's first home match on March 31. Sussin expects Sachem East will be among the toughest competition in League V, and that Half Hollow Hills East, Half Hollow Hills West, Westhampton Beach and Commack will be the premier teams in the county tournament.

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