Bona netters set to get into swing of season
 
  09/12/2002
ST. BONAVENTURE — Led by veteran, proven players, the St. Bonaventure men’s tennis team looks ahead to a bright season with an Atlantic 10 Conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth as its ultimate goals.
The Bonnies open a 2002-03 season of high expectations this weekend when they host the St. Bonaventure Fall Tennis Invitational Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference senior co-captains Vill Nurmi and Mikko Haulos will again backbone the team. Nurmi enters his final season with 42 career singles wins while Haulos has 43.
“I look for Vili and Mikko to be our leaders,” said Bonnies head coach Mike Bates. “Since they have been here, we have finished third in the Atlantic 10 one year, first the next year and third last year.”
Sophomore Mario Arce was named the 2002 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and also was an All-Conference selection after compiling a sparkling 17-3 record. He and Nurmi were also ranked 15th in the region as a doubles team. Arce will also be looked to for leadership.
“I look for Mario to move up and complete at a higher level than last year’s 17-3 performance,” Bates said. “He’s someone who is capable of beating anyone in the country and is vastly improving.”
Sophomores Nikhil Murali and Adam Price and junior Greg Osier complete the returning players. Murali, despite never playing on an actual team before college, showed poise as freshman, going 8-8 in singles and 18-6 in doubles. Price won 12 singles matches while Osier, contributed three singles wins.
Sophomores Sajeel Qureshi, who transferred from LaSalle, and John Corbin are newcomers who will look to make an immediate impact.
Last year, the Bonnies finished 12-10 overall and third at the Atlantic 10 Championship, but Bates’ attitude speaks otherwise.
“Last year with four freshman starting, we were very inconsistent, and consistency is the key,” he said. “At least now, everyone has a year of experience, and they have a feel of what to expect day in and day out, especially against tough competition.”
“The past two years we have been ranked in our region,” Bates said. “Our goals are to move ahead in the rankings, win the conference and get back to the NCAA Tournament.”
The Bonnies will play a difficult schedule that features numerous tournaments, a byproduct of the program’s rise in stature over the past three years. Among the fall highlights are the ECAC Tournament at U.S. Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., Oct. 3-6, the Omni Regional Tournament Oct. 25-29. The Atlantic 10 Championship is set for April 11-13 at the Oxford Athletic Club near Pittsburgh.
The St. Bonaventure Fall Tennis Invitational begins at 9 a.m. Friday at the St. Bonaventure Courts. Buffalo, Youngstown State, Niagara and Rochester will compete in the tournament. There will be no team scoring, as players will compete for titles in singles and doubles.