The men’s and women’s tennis teams have played one match this winter, but the season is about to hit full swing.

The men’s team made an appearance at Marquette University last week while the women’s team played at DePaul in January.

“The women were competitive at DePaul,” said first-year head coach Brian Holzgrafe.

“It’s good to have competitive matches. It’s really inspiring. The men also got good experience at Marquette.”

Holzgrafe took over the helm of the program this summer, replaced Michael Hunt, who resigned from the head coach position at the close of the 2001 season.

Holzgrafe has been an assistant coach at Saint Louis University for the past two years and played at University of Illinois-Springfield, where he was selected team MVP.

Both teams have been practicing in Lantz Fieldhouse since the start of the spring semester in January.

“As soon as we got back, we got going,” Holzgrafe said.

Holzgrafe has been focusing the team’s efforts on developing a sound, mental game.

“How someone leads is what the team picks up,” he said.

“I’m looking for a selfless team. I don’t focus on wins or losses, but don’t get me wrong; we will still go for the Ohio Valley Conference title.”

Both teams are looking to improve from last season. The men’s squad finished 13-9 overall last year and placed fifth in the OVC tournament. The women’s team went 14-12 and also placed fifth in the OVC tournament. For both teams, it was an improvement from their 2000 campaign where the men finished 6-19 and the women had 3-21 record.

“We have a young team and we are going to improve,” Holzgrafe said.

The women’s squad will look to junior Becky Carlson and sophomore Becky Brunner to lead the team. Brunner was 11-15 last spring and already has a singles victory this year, while Carlson went 10-7 last year.

The Panthers also have high expectations for freshman Sarah Freeman.

“We hope she can contribute and be an impact player,” Holzgrafe said.

On the men’s side, the Panthers will be led by C.J. Weber and Brandon Blankenbaker. As a doubles team, the two earned Eastern’s only win at Marquette.

“Last year they were the No. 3 and No. 4 players on the team – this year they are No. 1 and No. 2. That is remarkable.”

The men’s and women’s teams will have their next competition Feb. 8 at Saint Louis followed by a Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne Feb. 9.