University of Virginia Library

Net Vets Return

Improvement is all but
certain for the 1973 version of
the Cavalier tennis team. Last
year's state champs and third
place finishers in the ACC have
all but one regular returning
and have to be expected to
bolster their impressive
showing of 1972.

New coach Jim Stephens,
who has switched positions
with former mentor Gordon
Burris, who will take over the
golf duties, inherits the fruits
of Burris' labors, taking over a
squad that compiled a 15-5
record, which included several
shutouts.

The only- loss was a big
one–captain and number one
singles man Doug Waterman.
Competition to determine his
successor should be fierce with
last year's number two
performer Jim Ratliff, 17-8 in
'72, and third man Rick Swift,
20-7, the chief contestants.

Other returning veterans are
conference singles titlist Boyt
Murray, titleholder of the class
B division in the State tourney,
Frank Hatten, 20-7, at fifth
singles and Don Napier, 18-2
and second in the ACC
championships, and Pete
Adolph, who saw limited
action at the end of last season.

The doubles line-up, which
came on strong as the '72
season progressed, will be
equally tough to crack for any
first-year hopefuls. The teams
of Swift-Ratliff, Murray-Hatten
and Napier-Frank Spratlin all
turned in adequate showings in
the conference and should be
strong contenders in '73.

Perennial power UNC again
stacks up as the team to beat
but the Cavs, who were nosed
out for second by Wake, can be
expected to do no worse than
second this year besides
turning in a successful defense
of their state crown.