The Wake Forest men's tennis team is coming off their second straight NCAA tournament appearance and the upcoming season promises even greater things. The Deacs return all but one of their players, Justin Kaufmann, who is second on the all-time career single victories list.

Wake Forest return four All-ACC selections from a year ago ­ junior David Loewenthal, sophomore Derrick Spice, senior David Bere and senior Trent Brendon. This was the first time in school history that more then two players received this honor. These individual accomplishments were a result of the program's most successful season to date. Wake Forest finished the 2002 season with a record of 17-5, 6-2 in ACC action, which garnered them a third place finish in the conference.

Coach Jeff Zinn, is entering his seventh year at the helm and is looking forward to another exciting and successful season for the experienced Deacon squad. "The team's experience leads to a very high expectancy level," Zinn said. Loewenthal finished last year ranked 43rd in the final singles ranking with a record of 31-14. He is now the 28th ranked colligate player in the nation and Spice is currently the 97th ranked player. The doubles pairing of Loewenthal and Brendon are 50th in the preseason doubles rankings.

The fall tournament season got underway this past weekend. In the fall players compete as individuals to allow the Intercollegiate Tennis Association to rank the players. This process indirectly ranks the teams for the upcoming spring season.

In the UNC Kickoff Classic on Sept. 16, seniors, Bere, Brendon, Mike Murray and junior Andrew Simpson represented the Deacons. Bere dominated his singles draw by going 4-0 and not dropping a set on his way to a victory over Glauco Nascimento from Hampton 6-4,6-2, Duke's Ryan Heinberg 7-5, 6-3, and Adrias Zguns of Arkansas 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals. Bere's quest to capture the title culminated in the defeat of Clayton Almeida from Winthrop, last year's Region II Player of the Year, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Brendon steamrolled his way into his single finals draw not losing a set in three matches only to suffer a straight set defeat at the hands of North Carolina's Andy Metzler, 6-3, 6-3. Brendon also played in the finals of his doubles draw. He along with partner Simpson, had a strong showing picking up two victories before being ousted in the semifinals.

Murray had a grueling three-set match before he succumbed to Hampton's Jose Pinto, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5. This first round match was one of the tightest in the tournament. Murray's senior savvy showed through, fighting back to force a third set after dropping a close first one. This spring, the team season could prove to be a monumental year for men's tennis.

Newcomer Brett Ross will see action this year, but the heart of this team is derived from experience. The Deacons will have an advantage over most teams, returning eight letterwinners and five starters. The men will face difficult competition in their pursuit of an ACC title, but as Coach Zinn said, "These guys have been through the war. They know what it takes to get it done."