Fresh off a school-record third-place finish in the 1998 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament, Coach Steve MacDermut returns three letter winners set on maintaining the Quakers' status among the ODAC elite. The league's coaches awarded MacDermut the 1998 ODAC Coach of the Year Award after he led Guilford to its record-setting finish at the league tourney. The Quakers placed in fourth place in each of the five previous campaigns.

MacDermut's first task will be to replace the three All-ODAC performers and two additional letter winners gone from last season's club. Jay Weatherly '98, a second team All-ODAC third singles player last year, and Dave Max '98, an all-conference doubles performer, graduated in May leaving vacancies in both singles and doubles lineups. Max will return in 1999, but as an assistant coach. Guilford's number-two singles and a number-one doubles player from last year, Gary Young, opted not to play as a senior to concentrate on his studies and duties as student body president. Jon Sipes '98, Max' third doubles teammate in 1998, also graduated in May.

The losses from last year's unit mean the veterans with the exception of senior Dan Drossman will move to significantly higher positions this season. As a result, MacDermut expects some challenges in the early going as returning players settle into their new spots and the newcomers adjust to the college game. The coach hopes the Quakers adopt an aggressive style of setting up points and finishing them off.

The past success of the returning players gives hope for success in 1998-99. Guilford's top singles player for the past two years, Drossman ranks among the top returning Division III players in the South region and was ranked 33rd in the nation after the fall 1997 season. A two-time all-conference player, Drossman placed second at the 1997 ITA/Rolex Division III South Regional Tournament and reached the semifinals again in 1998. For the first time in three years, Drossman will have a new partner at number-one doubles due to Young's absence. Junior Johnny Mavromatis looks like the front-runner for the other top doubles post.

Mavromatis helped spark Guilford's successful season by returning to the lineup in 1997-98 after a yearlong absence. The lanky senior was an ODAC semifinalist at fourth singles and a number-two doubles player last season. He'll move up to second singles, while Many leaps from sixth singles to third after earning second team all-league honors a year ago. Newcomers like sophomore Jamie O'Sullivan and freshmen Casey Kennedy and Ari Betof look for spots among Guilford's top six players and push the veterans for position.