By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's tennis team will be a mix of key returning players plus three promising newcomers.
The Bears, after going 5-9 and 3-3 in the Little East Conference in 2023, open the season Tuesday afternoon at the Rosen Courts against the Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Three of BSU's top six players from a year ago are back, including sophomore Adam Beatrice (Rockland, Mass.), junior Matthew Krampf (Littleton, Mass.) and sophomore Tyler Barros (Somerset, Mass.).
Beatrice is moving from No. 3 singles to No. 1 after earning Little East rookie of the year honors while Krampf, who was 4-0 in the conference, is shifting from No. 5 singles to No. 3 and Barros stays at No. 6 after posting records of 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the Little East.
The additions to the roster include No. 2 singles player Tom Ayson (Plymouth, Mass.), a 6-foot-9 sophomore; Filippo Mucci (Vineyard Haven, Mass.), a sophomore who scored six goals with three assists for the BSU men's soccer team that won the MASCAC championship last fall and is slotted at No. 4 singles; and Robby Cooney (Plymouth, Mass.), who had a successful career at Plymouth North High.
"I think we have depth," said coach David Purpura, now in his eighth season. "In my men's coaching career, we've had a bunch of talented players, but the years we've had Jeff Pavao or Matt McGee, we haven't had six players deep. We've been weak at the bottom when we've been strong at the top. The last couple of years we've been stronger at the bottom and weak at the top.
"This is the first time really where we have representative talent at every position. I feel like going into every match, nobody is really going to be way overpowered at any position and at a lot of positions, we're going to be the favorite.
"When you feel like you can win at six positions, it really changes your outlook because teams have holes somewhere. This team is really good at one and two, strong at three and four and we have depth after that."
The Bears, who lost in the semifinal round of the conference tournament to Salem State last season, are picked to finish fifth in the Little East preseason poll.
Beatrice was 6-0 in Little East matches, 8-4 overall in his first season and is now making the move up to No. 1.
"He had a great freshman year and came ready for business this season," said Purpura. "He played really well in the preseason and looks and acts the part of the No. 1. He was voted co-captain by his teammates as a sophomore, which I think says a lot about who he is.
"I knew he was good (going into last season), but I think he was sort of a surprise breakout. He's a lot better in one year. Obviously, playing the No. 1 position is tough and it'll be a leap in terms of competition. But I think he'll rise to the challenge and be in for a good year."
Krampf played club tennis at Delaware two years ago before transferring to BSU where he went 7-3 overall last spring.
"He had an awesome record at No. 5 and is making the jump," said Purpura. "He's hitting as well as he's ever done. We expected him to make a big leap in terms of ability. He was really good last year."
Barros tied for the team lead with eight wins overall.
"He's a really crafty, smart player," said Purpura. "He plays a defensive style and was successful in the six spot. I expect that to be a good spot for us as well this year."
Ayson, who was a standout at Plymouth North High, did not play tennis a year ago and is a transfer student.
"He came in hitting well, and him being a transfer and not playing freshman year, I expected him to play lower in the lineup," said Purpura. "But he showed up ready and looks the part of a college tennis player."
Mucci, who is from Italy and played tennis while living on Martha's Vineyard, will make his collegiate tennis debut this season to go with a men's soccer career.
"I noticed he had some talent," said Purpura, who saw Mucci hitting balls on campus. "Obviously Filippo is an improving tennis player, but he's an all-around athlete with a really high tennis IQ.
"He played when he was young, playing when he grew up on the Vineyard. He's going to be a nice addition to our group. He's improving every day. We think he's a bright spot in the lineup."
Cooney attended Syracuse last year but did not play tennis. He is a late addition to the BSU roster and will likely make his Bears' debut later in the first week of the season. Cooney was a teammate of Ayson at Plymouth North where they were the Nos. 1 and 2 singles players.
"We have the potential for a talented newcomer at the top of the lineup," said Purpura. "I'm really excited about him. He can really play."
Ryan Hebert (Taunton, Mass.) is in the No. 5 slot after finishing last season at No. 7. Hebert was a doubles player in high school.
"He's really transformed physically and as a tennis player," said Purpura. "He worked really hard. He really wanted to be in the lineup put in the work."
The doubles teams for the opener should be Beatrice with Ayson; Krampf with Filippo and Hebert with junior co-captain Charlie Malinowski (East Bridgewater, Mass.).
The roster also includes senior Nicolas Levine (Raynham, Mass.), and juniors Lukas Ekmanis (Baxter, Tenn.) and Kyle Robbins (Bourne, Mass.).
"I think we're going to compete and be right there with the top two teams in the conference," said Purpura. "We have some depth. We have athleticism.
"They're motivated. They're ready to go. They didn't like the way last season went. They don't like the fact they're being looked past and are predicted to be fifth in the conference. The players and coaches believe we're better than everybody thinks we are."