Seven months after winning the school's first national tennis championship, Fresno Pacific men's tennis coach Neil Castro is optimistic his Sunbirds have what it takes to repeat as NAIA champions this spring.
Fresno Pacific opens its season Feb. 12 against Hawaii Pacific in Azusa, then hosts UC Santa Cruz at 2 p.m. on Feb. 13.
Despite losing three key members of last year's title run, Castro believes he has replaced them with equally talented players.
Topping that list is
Xavier Smith, former El Diamante High (Visalia) and Sacramento State star who is expected to take over at No. 1 singles for All-American Fabio Silva, who recently left school.
And Castro believes
Martin Vaisse, a transfer from California Baptist, can fill the shoes of All-American Vicente Joli, who transferred to Boise State.
Smith and Vaisse will join
Alex Gonzalez, last year's No. 3, in the top half of the Sunbirds' singles lineup.
In the bottom half of the lineup, Fresno State transfer
Denny Fafek is expected to replace Marco Foelz, who graduated. Fafek will be joined by returnees
Maxime Adam and
Jose Hilla.
A key, Castro said, will be getting leadership from Smith and Gonzalez.
"I think we'll be fine," said Castro, not sounding like a coach who lost his top two players. "We still have talent at the top and depth."