After a pair of fall matches, the Wabash Tennis team opens its spring schedule on Thursday when it plays host to Franklin College at the Wabash Tennis Complex.

The Little Giants return four of its six starters from last spring's singles lineup and a pair of doubles teams who enjoyed successful seasons in 2011. Coach Jason Hutchison's squad will be led by the return of senior Peter Gunderman and sophomore Daniel Delgado at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively.

Also returning to the fray will be sophomore Wade Miller and junior Ian Leonard at singles. In doubles competition, a pair of teams return in 2012 after posting winning records a year ago. Delgado and Miller had a 15-13 record last spring at No. 1 doubles while Leonard and senior Evan Bayless teamed up for a 18-9 record at No. 3 doubles.

"We have been working a lot on doubles; we need to be able to start quick and get out to an early lead with doubles points," Hutchison said. "We have been trying to find different combinations that work. We want to keep those doubles teams together, because they have played well together in the past."

An experienced, veteran squad is one that Hutchison will lean on this spring, especially with a limited preseason. As opposed to in years past, the team was limited to two weeks of preparation before this week's opening matches.

"We have had to really get after it," Hutchison said. "It seems like it has been a bit of a hurry-up situation to get ready for Thursday. Their experience is huge. All of these guys have match experience, even my sophomores. They have played in big matches and big points. In the long run that is huge for us."

A year ago, Gunderman took his lumps at No. 1 singles, struggling to a 4-14 record. But Hutchison feels like that experience was one Gunderman has grown from.

"He's excited to be a senior, and he has made it clear that he wants this to be a special season," Hutchison said. "He is willing to do what it takes and be a non-vocal leader out there for us."

For Delgado, this second season at Wabash comes with raised expectations after an impressive freshman year. Hutchison looks for similar gains in his second year on campus.

"From the time he started as a freshman, it was amazing how much he grew in just one season. He really started to understand what it took to play at this level. This season I am expecting more out of him."

After seeing limited action as freshman, Nate Koelper and Phil Kubisz look to make a more significant impact on the court in their second season at Wabash. Koelper posted a 3-3 record a year ago while Kubisz won both of the singles matches he competed in last season.

Also looking to crack the lineup will be newcomers Michael Doebler and Sky King.

After hosting the Grizzlies on Thursday, the Little Giants will travel to Illinois to visit Augustana and Monmoth Colleges for a pair of matches on Saturday.

"Those two matches are against teams that are ranked higher than us, so it's going to be a battle," Hutchison said. "I want to see who wants to win."

Wabash will then enjoy an extended stay in Crawfordsville as the Little Giants are home for the next six matches before the team's spring break trip. Wabash will head west for four matches in southern California.

"That is going to be a grind," Hutchison said. "We are going to have to spend the weeks leading up to that trip working on our singles games. The biggest thing about spring break is that it is a great team-building experience. We all spend the week together in the same house, and the guys get to know each other.

"That really prepares us for the second half of our schedule."