Sept. 10, 2004

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's University men's tennis team is coming off of a record-breaking season in 2003-04, and is showing no signs of slowing down in the 2004-05 season. The Hawks tied a school record with 15 wins in their 2002-03 campaign, boasted their best-ever finish in the Atlantic 10 last year with a fourth place ranking, and have returned all six starters who are ready to take the team to the next level with their sights set on an Atlantic 10 Championship this year.

Last season's successes have motivated the Hawks to work harder than ever during the summer and off-season months. Their schedule once again ranks among the best in the conference, and Hawk Hall of Famer Al Laveson is preparing the team for the season. The fall schedule is packed with top notched tournaments such as the Princeton Invitational, the ECAC Championships, the ITA Regional Individual Championships, and the Penn Classic.

Assistant Coach Gene Miller stated that, "I'm not expecting our guys to just compete in the tournaments; we can go beyond that and win a lot of these tournaments. Anything is possible."

Leading the team into the fall and spring seasons will be senior Francisco Velazquez. Velazquez became the winningest player in Hawk history in 2004 and became the first SJU player to earn all-conference honors three times in a career. Also proving to be a backbone to the team is junior Jimmy Holland. Holland is coming off a strong season last year, which secured him a spot on the all conference honors list. And with increased poise and confidence for this season, Holland is set to put up impressive numbers again. Velazquez and Holland reached the finals of the ITA Summer Circuit in July, and although Velazquez was able to capture the championship over his teammate.

Ranking second all-time in wins at SJU and leading the Hawks in singles wins last season is senior Van Homer Pangilinan. He was able to post a team best 11 doubles wins with Velazquez in 2003-04.

Hatboro-Horsham native, A.J. Garabedian has been using his 6-foot-3 size and maturity to his advantage gearing up for the 2004-05 season. He has also been perfecting some technique work, which will help him dominate on the court. Teammate Chris Spencer is coming off a solid sophomore season (18-20) and has been working hard to get his serve down.

Juniors Jeff Olson and Antonio Aniello are both coming off solid seasons. Olson, the heavy-hitting lefty won 7 matches last year. Aniello is looking to springboard off his 18 wins and bring home even more in his 2004-05 campaign.

Newcomer Michael Portanova, from Hazleton, PA, is a talented, quick athlete looking to spark the Hawks with his competitive spirit. Zach Dixon, from Lemoyne, PA, will also be starting his rookie campaign on Hawk Hill and is challenging teammates to prepare for the season.

Last season was a year to be remembered on Finnessey Courts, but this year's mixture of Hawks has the potential to make their presence prominent in men's tennis. They are striving to be ranked among the top teams in the Mid-Atlantic region and realize it will take hard-work and dedication to reach such excellence. By the time the Atlantic 10 Championships roll around, the Hawks hope to be in peak condition, playing their best tennis.