The University of Mary Washington enters the 2008 spring tennis season as the four-time defending Capital Athletic Conference women's champion and the eight-time defending CAC men's champion.  The Eagles women's team, currently 7-0, is ranked No. 6 in the country while the men's team, with a 6-2 record, is ranked No. 12 in Division III.

Salisbury is the only other school to win team championships -- the SU women won two in 2002 and 2003 while the Sea Gulls men won four from 1996-99.  Both SU teams currently sit atop the standings with a 5-2 women's record (1-0 in CAC play) and 5-0 men's mark (1-0 in CAC play).

Wesley and Villa Julie join the chase to upend the defending champions in the seven-team conference.  Here is a look at the teams heading into St. Patrick's Day weekend.


HOOD
       First year head coach Jay Butler inherits a Hood men's tennis program consisting of five returners and two newcomers. Junior Robert Khitrik posted Hood's best dual match record at 6-3, splitting time at fifth and sixth singles. Senior Nick Gunther won three duals matches playing at the No. 3 and 4 spots last spring while Garrett Loomer and Kenny Smith also registered dual match victories.
       Five veterans return to the court for coach Butler and the Hood College women's tennis team. Senior Stephanie Garrett went 12-6 in dual matches in 2007 and won five straight matches to close the spring season. Juniors Christine Ocampos-Barry, Larisa Buriak, Caitlin Erickson along with senior Laura Wanner provide a solid foundation as the Blazers embark on their second full season in the Capital Athletic Conference.


MARY WASHINGTON
       The Mary Washington men, ranked 12th in the nation entering the spring, returns all six starters from last year's school-record breaking 22-win team that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Included in that number are All-Americans Randy Loden and John James, each of whom has won the regional ITA singles title in the past two years. Freshmen Kaz Murata and Bryce Parrish look to crack a lineup that has won each of the past eight CAC titles and 13 of 17 championships since 1991.
       The sixth-ranked Mary Washington women welcome back all six starters and three talented freshmen with the hopes of improving on last year's 22-3 season that saw the Eagles advance to the NCAA Tournament third round. All-Americans Stephanie Kurti and Becky Morse-Karzen head the squad that has achieved its highest ranking since 1993. The Eagles have won the past four CAC Championships and 15 of the 17 team titles since the inception of the conference in 1991.

SALISBURY
       The Salisbury University men's tennis team returns its core from last year's 17-win season where the Sea Gulls finished second in the conference.  No. 1 singles junior Matt Nicholson returns after missing half of the season due to an injury in '07. Senior Brendan Kincaid will challenge Nicholson for the top spot in the rotation. Sophomore phenoms Scott Burtzlaff and Evan Thomas will hold down the middle of the singles line-up at No. 3 and No. 4 where they earned All-CAC honors a year ago. Burtzlaff was the CAC Rookie of the Year last season. Coach Randy Halfpap will change things up at doubles as he breaks up the All-CAC pair of Kincaid and Nicholson to form tandems of Kincaid-Burtzlaff and Nicholson-Thomas to make a top one, two punch for the Sea Gulls. Marcus Robinson and Andrew Nottage will enter untested at No. 3 doubles.
       The Salisbury University women's tennis team is young and experienced but will have to replace its No. 1 and No. 2 singles players. Junior Anna Marie Kable and sophomore Kelly Fahrner, both second team All-CAC selections a year ago in singles, will be looked upon to step-up in '08 and fill the top part of the SU line-up. Juniors Hannah Parsons and Robyn Wendell along with sophomores Rachel Iosue and Jackie Burr will help fill out the Sea Gull rotation. In doubles, Kable and Burr will form the top pair followed by Parsons and Wendell, who were All-CAC No. 3 doubles last season, in the second spot.

ST. MARY'S
       The St. Mary's men's tennis team will look to build upon last season's 4-8 mark and helping that cause will be junior Andrew MacLaughlin who was one of just two players last year to win four matches at No. 3 singles.  In doubles action, the tandem of junior Jeremy Butanis and senior Travis Horrom return as St. Mary's top doubles duo after posting a 4-5 log a year ago.
       On the women's side, St. Mary's was three matches short of finishing .500 and the Seahawks are hoping to improve upon that this year.  Sarah Weisse is back for her junior campaign at No. 1 singles after going 5-9 in 2007.  The Seahawks will look to fill the void at No. 4 singles left by the graduation of Sarah Pernick who finished with a 12-1 record.  Weisse and sophomore Michelle Compton will once again hold down the fort at No. 1 doubles after recording a 4-5 log.

VILLA JULIE
       After consecutive NEAC Championships, the Villa Julie men's team faces tough competition in the Capital Athletic Conference. The past two years have been spectacular for the team as the Mustangs have gone 11-5 and 12-3 while not losing a conference match during the regular season. However this year's team has a different identity than previous years. The Mustangs will be very talented at the top with Ryan Morse and Ryan Woodring fighting for the top spot. Also returning are NEAC Champions Matt Kondilas and Korey Garner. VJC also welcomes freshman Kevin Stamm, Marc Allinson and Randy Speck who will be making an immediate impact into the lineup. Add in Ben Petasky who is a transfer from Florida Atlantic and Towson and this team has the talent to be as successful as it has been in previous years. Villa Julie also welcomes a new head coach into the program this year, former #1 and team captain Jason Cohen.
       The Villa Julie women have three outstanding seniors returning this season; Lauren Humphries (captain), Tori Allinson, and Barbora Hnizda. Add that to doubles junior specialists Meghan Laschinger and Samantha Rasnake, and there is a wealth of experience on the team. Sophomore, Meghan Henszey, who all look to add some competetive fire to the team. Villa Julie will be looking to make an impact of the Capital Athletic Conference this season.


WESLEY
       Four starters return from last year's Wesley men's tennis team, including Ken Reilly and Mickey DeSouza, who routinely occupied the top two spots in the Wolverine line up in 2007. Andrew Smyth and Luke Melillo are also back for Wesley's first season in the CAC. Four talented freshmen, Adee Bautista, Parker Bennett, Will Johnson and Will Sutton (also a member of the Wesley soccer team), will battle for the remaining two spots in the lineup.
       Ten newcomers - including eight freshmen - give the Wesley women's tennis team reason to believe the team can improve upon last year's two-win season. The Wolverines enter their first season in the CAC with just two returning players, junior Nicole Lambey and sophomore Tara Spillane. Lauren Tarver, also a member of the women's soccer team, brings the most impressive resume of the freshmen after winning three conference player of the year awards at Serrano (Calif.) High School.


YORK
       The York College men's tennis team returns a number of their top players as they look to build on last season's 10-7 finish. York went 4-2 in the CAC and welcome back number one Tim Mowrer and number two Ryan Fickes. The Spartans are also happy to have former number one Ron Ho back in the fold after missing the 2007 spring season. The Spartans will look to a core of additional returners in Braxton Koppelman, Josh Kulp, Joel Trimmer, and Paul Graci to compete to fill out the additional spots in the Spartan starting lineup.
       The York College women's tennis team, under the guidance of first year head coach Ryan Weber, must replace number one player Erin Dolac as the Spartans view 2008 as a building year. Among York's top returning players are Heidi Acker (4-6 at #2), Paige Doutrich (3-5 at #4), and Megan Logan (6-2 at #5 and #6) while newcomers Stephanie Nelson and Hannah Reissman will look to make an impact for YCP. The Spartans finisehd 5-6 last year including a mark of 1-4 in the conference.