The Auburn men's tennis team is getting set to start their spring season Sunday, Jan. 18, against The Citadel.
Auburn starts the season ranked 42nd nationally, but their goals are far higher. Head coach Eric Shore said although they had a solid fall season, his team's goals are still in front of them.
"Our first goal is to make Sweet Sixteen," Shore said, "But to do that you've got to make the tournament first, and last year we made it. But the last half of the season we didn't do a very good job at all. We ran out of gas."
The Sweet Sixteen, which occurs in the NCAA tournament starting May 8, is two rounds further that the mark set by last year's team.
Team captain and senior Lukas Ollert said the team has been practicing well, and despite having team goals, he has set some major goals for himself.
"My individual goal is to be top 10 in college at singles and to make the [NCAA] tournament in doubles," Ollert said.
Last year, Ollert made it to the second round of the singles championship.
Shore also said although he's proud of the team's fall success, he doesn't want them to grow complacent.
"It's encouraging that we had such a good fall, but it doesn't do you a whole lot of good now," Shore said. "It is what it is and now we have to start over basically, and that's what I'm trying to convey to these guys."
The first matchup against The Citadel marks the first meeting between the two schools. It could serve as a good match to get the guys back into form after vacation.
The team is set to play in an Intercollegiate Tennis Association kickoff at Ohio State Jan. 24-25.
Some players to watch for are Ollert, sophomore Maxime Hinnisdaels and junior Marko Krickovic, all of whom Shore said he believes are good enough to make the NCAA Championships in singles.
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