Macalester gets its 2009 men's tennis campaign started Jan. 31 when the Scots play Central and Luther in Decorah, Iowa, and the team is confident it can continue to move up in the tough MIAC.  Much of the team's optimism for a successful spring is generated by the squad's performance last fall at the ITA regionals.

After winning just a couple conference matches over five years prior to last season, Macalester took a big step forward in 2008 when it went 2-7 in the MIAC while also nearly knocking off another team. The Scots graduated their two best players, including All-MIAC and Academic All-District 5 player Aaron Heerboth, but with a strong first-year class ready to step right in, expect continued progress for the Scots under fifth-year head coach Jason Muhl.

Much of the team's optimism for a successful spring is generated by the squad's performance last fall at the ITA regionals, where Macalester was led by newcomers Chris Fowler (Fy., Toronto, Ont. / Royal St. George's) and Ali Bandeali (Fy., Karachi, Pakistan / Karachi Grammar School).

Macalester doubles teams at the ITA tourney twice defeated pairs from Gustavus and one team toppled the region's No. 4-tanked tandem from Luther.

Charlie Edelman (Sr., Tucson, Ariz. / University) is a four-year regular in the middle or top of the singles and doubles lineup and is coming off an 8-8 campaign in 2008. Edelman's career singles record at Macalester is 31-18. Michael Coleman (So., Westlake Village, Calif. / Agoura) will move up in the lineup after going 8-8 last season, including 4-5 in MIAC singles matches. He was also 4-4 in conference doubles matches. Edelman went 10-7 in doubles play, while going 7-3 (4-2 in the MIAC) with Titus Levy (Jr., New York, N.Y. / Fieldston School).

Macalester also returns a pair of sophomores who handled the third and fourth spots in the singles lineup as frosh last year: Paul Mairet (Rochester, Minn. / Century) and Justin Margolies (Madison, Wis. / West). Their progress will be a key to the team's success this year.