The Wabash tennis team opens play in the 2017 North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament Friday with a fresh start after a grueling regular season built to prepare the players for this weekend.
 
The Little Giants played 14 nationally or regionally ranked teams during the regular season. Wabash finished 11-13 overall, including a 1-2 record against NCAC West Division opponents.
 
Wabash earned the fifth seed in the tournament and will face fourth-seeded Oberlin College Friday at noon at Denison University. The winner advances to the semifinals to face the winner between top-seeded DePauw and eighth-seed Wittenberg Saturday at noon. The loser Friday will compete in either the seventh or fifth place match Saturday. The championship and third place matches will take place Sunday at noon.
 
The Little Giants lost 6-2 at Oberlin back on February 2.
 
"We are a completely different team from when we played Oberlin at the start of the season" Wabash head tennis coach Jason Hutchison said. "I know Oberlin is a different team too. That's what the run of a season does for a program. You work to get better. Oberlin's Coach (Eric) Ishida has done an awesome job with that program. They're good, they're relaxed, and they play hard. We know a battle is coming, but I think Oberlin knows a battle is coming, as well. It's an exciting first-round matchup."
 
The Little Giants are likely to go with the same lineup that produced late-season wins over Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan. Junior William Reifeis should get the nod at number one singles after going 10-11 at that position this season. He will be joined with Patrick McAuley at number one doubles. The duo finished 13-6 in the top doubles slot this season, while McAuley was 10-3 at number four singles for Wabash.
 
Michael Makio is set at number two singles after an 8-11 season. Jordan Greenwell has been solid at number three singles with a 9-5 mark. The two have combined for a 9-6 record at number two doubles.
 
Nicholas Pollock is 8-6 at number five singles. Freshman Andrew Denning is 5-3 since moving into the number six singles position. He did not play a singles match earlier in the season versus Oberlin. Denning partnered with senior Mazin Hakim at number three doubles for the past six matches to go 4-2 overall.
 
"Our schedule has been ridiculously hard," Hutchison said. "I think that has helped test us and prepare us for this teams we will face in this tournament. I was discussing schedules for next season with Kenyon's head coach early in the week. He believes this will be the most competitive NCAC tournament he's seen in his 24 seasons at Kenyon. The match that matters for us is Friday. That's where our focus will be. A win there would put us in the semis and guarantees us at least a top-four finish in the conference. Every match is going to be close. It should be a lot of fun."
 
Kenyon College will serve as the host school for both the men's and women's tournament. Complete information regarding the tournament as well as updated schedules and results can be found at the championship site.