WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Mait DuBois era in men’s tennis at UNC Wilmington gets off to a rousing start Sunday when the new-look Seahawks begin a stretch of matches against three nationally-ranked opponents in four matches to kick off the 2007-08 season.

            DuBois, 33, took over the program in late August, 2007 and has been revamping nearly every phase in an effort to push the Seahawks to the upper echelon of the Colonial Athletic Association. He’ll start by sending his club up against 24^th-ranked Tennessee in Knoxville.

            “We’re very excited about starting the spring season,” said DuBois, who had coaching stints at Charleston Southern, Virginia and N.C. State before landing in the Port City. “I’ve been very pleased with how well the team has come together, and with our work ethic and progress. We’ve made a lot of progress in a short amount of time.”

            The Seahawk netters lost nearly their entire squad from last year and return only juniors Gustavo Bertei (Port Alegre, Brazil) and Brian Ford (Puyallup, Wash.) for the upcoming season. DuBois has, however, brought in several newcomers, including a pair of foreign stars – Kinshuk Sharma of Chandgarh, India, and Illia Ziamtsou of Mogilev, Belarus – to increase the team’s depth.

            “Since we have a young squad, we’re going to try to capitalize on our energy and intensity in every match,” DuBois said. “We’ve been training hard for the spring season and competing as a team. I’m looking forward to our first team effort.”

            UNCW, which went 14-6 overall and 3-2 in the circuit last season, opens the new campaign Sunday with the Vols of the Southeastern Conference before tackling No. 71 Princeton Thursday in Raleigh. After returning home for their home opener Thursday, Feb. 7, against High Point, the Seahawks travel to No. 38 Old Dominion Feb. 10.

            Overall, the Seahawks will play 22 matches, including 14 home dates and a stretch of 11 consecutive matches in mid-February and March.

            Bertei posted a 10-7 record at No. 2 singles last season and went 8-8 with two doubles partners. Ford, meanwhile, went 10-5 in singles, mostly at the No. 6 slot, and teamed with three other players to go 9-7 in doubles.

Freshman lefthander Michael Pereira is one of DuBois’ most promising newcomers. The Fayetteville, N.C., product was a four-year starter at Jack Britt High School was ranked 27^th in the Boy’s 18 Southern standings and No. 2 in the state. He enjoyed an excellent first semester at UNCW, winning a flight in the UNCW-CCL Invitational and taking the consolation title of the A-1 flight at the USC Gamecock Invitational.

            UNCW’s 2007-08 slate includes five matches against CAA foes, with the CAA Round Robin Apr. 4-6 in Harrisonburg, Va., pitting the Seahawks against James Madison, Hofstra and Delaware.

UNCW also plays ODU and George Mason during the regular season before participating in the CAA Championships Apr. 17-20 in Newport News, Va. - Courtesy UNCW Sports Information