Blue tennis season disappoints

This was a team that started out 6-0 in the Big Ten. This was a team that looked like it could be on its way to a Big Ten title and its first NCAA team appearance in 10 years. But instead, the Michigan men's tennis team heard about the NCAA championships from home after finishing the season 13-10.

One of the major problems for the Wolverines was their schedule. After starting out with an 11-3 record, Michigan lost seven of its last nine matches, facing all the top teams at the end of the season.

As a result of this slump, the Wolverines were seeded fourth at the Big Ten Tournament and faced Wisconsin in the first round. They defeated Wisconsin, but were over-matched by No. 6 and eventual Big Ten champions Illinois in the semi-finals. Michig

DANA LINNANE/Daily All-Big Ten player David Paradzik will be leaving the Michigan men's tennis team, but three new recruits aim to help Michigan improve next year.

an then lost to Purdue in a close third-place match.

"Every time we played Purdue it was close," Michigan assistant coach Dan Goldberg said. "It came down to the last match every time."

The Wolverines would get a chance to play spoiler against Purdue when the two teams faced each other in the first round of the NCAA Regionals. But the Wolverines fell short.

"We didn't live up to our potential," sophomore Brad McFarlane said. "I thought we had the best depth in the Big Ten."

Next year brings a new outlook for the Wolverines. They will be graduating four members of the team, all-Big Ten player David Paradzik, Arvid Swan, Brook Blain and Miki Pusztai.

But the Wolverines do have three top recruits coming in.

Dan McCain, one of the top high school players in the country, is expected to play towards the top of the line-up. The Wolverines also have two in-state recruits, Henry Beam and Ben Cox. Both contended for their respective high school state championships.

"People will think it is a rebuilding year for us," Goldberg said. "I think we will surprise them."

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