If he spent enough time to look around and take stock in his program – one he has spent 15 years shaping into one of the nation’s best – VCU men’s tennis coach Paul Kostin might be proud of what he’s accomplished. MEN’S TENNIS OUTLOOK
If he spent enough time to look around and take stock in his program – one he has spent 15 years shaping into one of the nation’s best – VCU men’s tennis coach Paul Kostin might be proud of what he’s accomplished.
Nine Colonial Athletic Association championships, 13 straight NCAA Tournament appearances – including a second-round berth last year, a mountain of accolades for himself and his players. But Kostin doesn’t waste time admiring the past. A tireless worker, he doesn’t need to. He’s interested in today, the here and now, and what it will take to get to the next level.
No worry, because the today is exciting, and the here is now is capable of Kostin’s lofty expectations. Coming off a No. 35 national ranking in 2005, and with All-American Arnaud Lecloerec spearheading the charge, the 2006 edition of the Rams projects as one of the best once again.
Lecloerec, a junior from Plouhinec, France, (pictured) was superb in his sophomore campaign, earning CAA Co-Player of the Year honors, as well as All-America status after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Singles Tournament. He heads into the spring season with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s No. 52 singles ranking.
A pair of seniors return as well, bringing with them more than 170 career singles and doubles victories. Barcelona-native Francesc Lleal was fashioned a 16-3 doubles mark in 2005, not to mention 17 wins on the singles side. Last season Lleal paired with VCU’s other senior, Sergi Arumi, forging a 12-2 doubles ledger and triumphs in both of the Rams’ NCAA Team Tournament matches. Arumi, meanwhile, has piled up 68 singles and doubles victories on his own, including 17 solo wins in 2005.
Kostin also welcomes back a pair of promising youngsters in sophomores Damien Lacombe and Sebastian Ripoll. After gaining valuable experience through VCU’s usual rugged schedule, both are poised for breakout seasons. Ripoll, after a highly successful fall season, picked up the ITA’s No. 85 singles spot heading into the spring.
The Rams have also added three fresh faces that will bolster the team today and into tomorrow in freshman Emil Lindren, sophomore Georges-Alexadre Israel and junior Petr Olsak, who joined the VCU stable prior this spring.
Additionally, Kostin has again laid out a schedule befitting a team not content to sit pat on its No. 33 preseason ranking. Seven of the Rams’ opponents this season are ranked among the ITA’s top 35 teams, including No. 1 Virginia, No. 7 Baylor, No. 8 Duke and No. 15 Wake Forest.