ALTOONA, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona men’s tennis team has grown accustomed to winning Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championships.  In the eight-year period from 1999-2006, the Lions claimed six AMCC crowns, which is most of any sport at Penn State Altoona.  With a 2009 team comprised of entirely new starters, and the AMCC’s addition of Pitt-Bradford to its conference ranks, head coach Steve Genter knows that claiming a seventh championship will prove to be a significant challenge for this year’s team.

Co-Conference Player of the Year Jake Fleet and All-AMCC First-Team selections Steven Penn And Nick Erb are gone from last year’s 7-3 team, but Genter believes that his newcomers can step in nicely and contribute to the Lions’ success.

“Most of our team is newcomers,” says the tenth-year coach, “but we still have a very good team.  None of last year’s starters are back, so we’ll be starting all first-year players, which gives us good depth and some pretty good talent.  Stephen James (Muncy, PA/Hughesville) has been practicing well and should really help the team, and Scott Pickrell (Altoona, PA/Altoona) and Thomas Van Antwerp (Somerset, PA/Somerset) will be in the starting six and should really help out the team throughout the season.”

Sophomores Patrick Bloom (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville) and Justin Hess (Saxton, PA/Tussey Mountain) return for the 2009 campaign, with Bloom competing in five doubles matches and two singles matches in 2008.  Hess also played in two singles matches, winning one at St. Vincent College in the #6 singles.

Genter, who made cuts earlier this year in order to spend more time preparing his team, is satisfied with the product on the practice court and anticipates a strong start in 2009.

“I’ve been pleased with the progress so far,” noted Genter. “We’re actually working on doubles quite a bit because I think it really sets the tone for most matches.  I’m trying to stress net play a little more than I have the last few years.  Net play is so important for doubles.”

Last year the Lions finished the season at the AMCC Championships where they placed second among the four conference teams participating.  Penn State Behrend took home the 2008 title for its third conference championship overall -their second since 2004- and Coach Genter thinks that Behrend will challenge for the league crown again in 2009.

“Behrend and Frostburg State will be the teams to beat this season in the conference,” said Genter.  “Behrend lost some key players to graduation, but we know they’ll still be strong, and Frostburg has a strong freshman class.”

Coach Genter will also enjoy the insight and tutelage of longtime aid Bill Anthony as his assistant coach this season, and also the help of a very close family member.

“Bill’s been my assistant coach since I started here and he always does a great job.  He’s a good player and a very good game-day coach with our players.  Also, my daughter Krista is still helping out as a team manager.  She pretty much has the job down-pat.”

The Lions begin the season on Friday, March 20, at Pitt-Greensburg for an AMCC contest against the Bobcats.  Match time is set for 1:00 PM.