ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A new season begins for the Elmira College men's tennis team in just one day, as the Soaring Eagles kick-off the spring portion of their 2018-19 schedule with a non-conference bout against perennial power SUNY Oneonta on Wednesday, February 13, at the Murray Athletic Center at 4:00 p.m. It will mark the first of five consecutive home matches to open the year, as the Purple and Gold look grow under the tutelage of second-year head coach Rob Clayton.
                                          
"I think this year, more than my first year, we're kind of getting a really solid effort in practice," said Clayton. "We're able to develop the baseline, the control, the foundational-type stuff, so we can build and benchmark ourselves with some of the better teams in the conference."
 
Clayton continues, "The benefit of being in my second year and having the full year with them; knowing the guys longer, with talking about more things, with being able to teach more things, I kind of understand them more and they understand me more."
 
Elmira welcomes back five returners from last year's squad, all of whom held down starting spots throughout the 2017-18 campaign, but will have the burden of replacing the program's all-time singles wins leader and 2018 Empire 8 All-Conference Second Teamer, Patrick Tracey '18.
 
Looking to fill the void will be third-year talent Stephen Gervase '20, who seems to be the front-runner to take on the top singles and doubles positions. Standing at 6-feet 1-inch, Gervase brings a solid all-court game to the table and has the ability to change up playing styles when needed.
 
"I think Steve's going to do great," said Clayton. "The way his game progressed last year, I think he's tuned nicely to the type of matches he's going to be getting at No. 1 with the pace-oriented type of play and the aggressive hitters he will face."
 
During his career, Gervase has seen action at all positions in the doubles lineup and at spots second through sixth in singles. Last season the Lebanon, Connecticut, native produced 10 total wins, five coming in singles and another five in doubles. He was an even 4-4 against Empire 8 Conference opponents a year ago and went 2-0 at No. 2 singles, which included a victory over E8 adversary Utica.
 
From there, Elmira's lineup has some flexibility as the next few spots seem to be up for grabs between a handful of players. Jordan Curtis '19 and Zackarie Stedge '21 could be viable options to slide in somewhere in those next two spots, but dual-sport athlete Curtis Harris '22 might also challenge for a top-three position as well.
 
A senior from Wolcott, New York, Curtis has developed into a solid baseliner over the years with strong strokes on both sides of the ball. He earned three singles victories a season ago, two of which were recorded against E8 opponents, and saw action this fall at the No. 2 spot against Oswego State. With a strong offseason, look for Curtis to make his case to be EC's everyday No. 2.
 
"I think Jordan buys into the concept of the one through six being relative, just kind of where they fit the most efficiently," added Clayton. "With as many tools as he has, he might see some fluctuation as far as where I think he might benefit us most in certain matches."
 
Stedge and Harris are EC's two tallest players, an interesting advantage Coach Clayton will look to take exploit of this year.
 
Standing at 6-feet 3-inches, Stedge enters his second year with the Soaring Eagles, after filling in at the middle portion of EC's singles lineup. The local product of Horseheads, New York, produced a trio of wins, all coming in E8 action, as well as a pair of doubles victories. Stedge's game has seen vast improvements since his first day on campus a year ago, especially at the service line, a weapon that will certainly help in doubles action this year.
 
Harris, a dual-sport athlete with the EC men's basketball team, looks like the most athletic player on the team this year. Albeit a small sample size, Harris showed signs that he has the ability to produce in the singles lineup, that after going three sets in his first official collegiate match this fall against Oswego State. Standing at 6-feet 2-inches, look for Harris to utilize his long wingspan in all facets of the game.
 
The bottom half of the singles lineup will also be up for grabs between a quartet of players, including Ravi Chauma '21, Frank Endieveri III '21, Torin Nethaway '22 and Alec Roy '22.
 
Chauma and Endieveri have a leg up on the competition after spending the previous season with the Purple and Gold. Chauma held down the No. 6 singles position for the majority of the year and made a brief appearance at the five spot. He collected two wins during that time, both coming against conference foes.
 
Endieveri, on the other hand, was utilized primarily in doubles, as he paired with Stedge for the majority of his rookie season. He earned two wins in doubles action, one at second and the other at third. Both Endieveri and Chauma will push for starting roles again this season and will be crucial in EC's leadership core.
 
Rookies Nethaway and Roy are in the mix for playing time as well. Nethaway was a letterwinner in tennis at Amsterdam High School and competed in the New York State Section II Tournament in doubles. With his familiarity in doubles, Nethaway could be a key cog in the lineup for Coach Clayton.
 
Roy, a dual-sport athlete with the EC men's volleyball team, adds athleticism to the squad and another long-limbed body in Coach Clayton's arsenal. Look for Roy to add to Elmira's depth once he joins the team at the conclusion of the volleyball season.
 
Season Opener
The Soaring Eagles will be put to the test right out of the gates, as they host SUNY Oneonta in non-league action on Wednesday, February 13, at 4:00 p.m. inside the Murray Athletic Center.
 
The Red Dragons will be a tough test early in the year, but will set a solid foundation for the Elmira men as they look forward to what is a competitive schedule.  SUNY Oneonta went 8-12 last season, which included a win over EC almost exactly a year ago to the date on February 14, 2018.