USI Screaming Eagles | Men's Tennis

USI Men's Tennis 2002-03 Spring Outlook

GLVC Regular Season Champions: 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000
GLVC Tournament Champions: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
NCAA II Tournament: 2000, 2001, 2002

New Coach, New Season

For the University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team, 2002-03 is not only a new season, but a new era.

The Screaming Eagles begin the season under new head coach Ross Brown, only the third head coach in the history of the USI program. Brown replaces Jon Mark Hall, who was the last four GLVC Tournaments and led the team to its first two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances.

Brown picks up the reigns of a team that returns four of its top six singles players and one of its three doubles teams from a year ago. Leading the way is senior number one singles player Paulus Halim (Indonesia), a senior, and number two singles player Weston Phillips (Henderson, Kentucky). Both were All-GLVC last season.

Halim battled through several shoulder problems last season to post a 15-9 overall record in singles and combined with former Eagle Chris Crawford for a 15-9 record at number one doublers. Overall, Halim was 17-9 when paired with a partner.

Phillips posted a team-best 19 singles wins and was 19-7 overall at number two singles. He was 14-4 in the number two spot, 7-1 in the GLVC. Phillips combined with Chris McCreight (Jeffersonville, Indiana) to go 15-7 in at number three doubles.

A possible number three singles player is last year's number four in senior Bahvesh Chadda (Indiana). Chadda was second on the team with a 17-5 overall singles record, going 11-2 at number four singles. He also was 14-6 at number two doubles, combining USI record holder Ethan Davis. Chadda had a total doubles record of 15-7.

A strong number six or a possible number five singles player is junior Daniel Halim (Indonesia). Daniel Halim joined his brother Paulus and the Eagles at the semester break and became the final ingredient in USI's 2002 GLVC championship run.

Halim was 7-6 at number six singles after bouncing back from illness in February.

The Eagles also can count upon three sophomores to return to fill the gaps. McCreight played well in nine matches at number six singles, posting a 3-6 overall record. USI also could see more playing time this season for sophomore Evan Luttrell (Logansport, Indiana).

New to the squad in 2002-03 are sophomore Shaun Skelton (Evansville, Indiana) and freshman Brandon Muelhausen (Logansport, Indiana). Skelton transfers to USI from Morehead State University where did not participate in tennis, but track and cross country. Muelhausen comes to USI from Logansport High School where he was a member of the varsity program all four seasons.

2002 Review and Fall Preview

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