BEREA, OHIO -- The 2011-12 Baldwin-Wallace College men's tennis team and veteran Head Coach Brian Rector seek to continue the program's successful two-decade run by winning the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference title and earning the school's first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament berth this spring.

"We are looking forward to the upcoming season with great anticipation," said Rector, a 1989 graduate of the College and the winningest men's tennis coach at B-W, in the OAC and in Ohio collegiate tennis history with a 385-83 career record in 22 seasons.

"We return a solid group of veterans from a year ago, including four fulltime starters and another student-athlete who started part of the time" continued Rector. "In addition, we are bringing in a talented group of newcomers who can challenge our veterans for court time.  We feel pretty positive heading into the fall portion of our schedule."

A year ago, B-W finished 21-5 overall and 6-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference before falling in the OAC Tournament semifinals. The 21 victories marked the ninth straight season that Rector's program had 19 or more wins and advanced to the OAC Final Four. B-W also has won 20 matches or more in six of the past nine seasons.

"Our program has a long history of success," said Rector. "Each year, our goals are to compete in the classroom and on the court, win the prestigious OAC title and advance to the NCAA Division III National Tournament."

This season, Rector returns eight lettermen on his 13-player roster, including a pair of All-OAC standouts.

The Yellow Jackets will be led by senior three-time All-OAC and two-time Academic All-OAC selection Alex Trzeciak (Avon Lake), who earned his second straight first-team All-OAC nod last season and competed at number one singles. He posted a 22-5 overall record, including a 19-4 mark at the No. 1 position. He also was a member of the No. 2 doubles team with sophomore Brad Minrovic (Akron/ Ellet) and the duo compiled a 12-4 slate.  In three seasons, Trzeciak has posted a 61-16 singles record to rank 11th on the school's all-time singles victory list.  He has also posted a 57-20 doubles mark during that time.

"Alex has been a steady influence both in the classroom and on the tennis court," said Rector, who was B-W's No.1 singles player, the school's all-time winningest player at that time and a 1989 CAPITAL ONE Academic All-American. 'Alex has his priorities in the right place.  He is a leader in the classroom and on the court. The other men in our program look up to Alex."

At second singles, junior Joe Horvath (North Royalton) returns after his second straight second-team All-OAC selection. He joins fellow junior Alex Kearney (North Olmsted) and Minrovic  as returning fulltime starters.  In addition, senior Taylor Long (Ashland) returns as a doubles starter and sophomore Josh Pecinovsky (Whitehall/ Columbus Bishop Hartley) is back after starting a few matches both in singles and doubles.

"Joe had a second straight solid year and he again will battle with Trzeciak at No.1 and with Kearney at No.2," said Rector.  "In two seasons, Joe already has 45 career singles wins against just six losses."

Horvavth had an outstanding sophomore campaign with 21 singles wins (21-5 overall), including a 19-3 mark at No. 2 singles. That was after a freshman campaign in 2009-10 when he compiled an even more impressive 24-1 slate, including a 13-1 mark at No.4. In doubles, he is 41-8 the past two seasons. Last season, he teammed with graduated All-OAC standout Matt Lachman at No.1.

Kearney joined the team in 2008-2009 from OAC rival the University of Mount Union and had to sit out the 2009-10 season.  Last season, he played at the No. 3 singles position and posted a solid 21-7 mark. He also was a part of a No. 3 doubles tandem that included Long. The duo posted a 20-4 record to lead the team in wins.

"Alex was an outstanding addition to our lineup at No.3 singles and doubles," said Rector. "He is a fine student and tennis player and fits into our program well. He solidified the top of our lineup. Having all three of them (Trzeciak, Horvath and Kearney) is huge for us."

Minrovic returns after a breakout freshman season where he posted a first 20-win season (20-9 overall), including a 14-6 mark at No. 6 singles. Look for him to battle for his spot at No.6 singles.

Long has played doubles each of the past three seasons and has compiled a career mark of 61-16, including a 20-4 mark last season with Kearney at No.3.  Look for this veteran to again anchor the third doubles team.

"Both Brad and Taylor continue to give us strength and depth in our lineup," said Rector. "Brad played very well as a freshman last season and that experience should pay huge dividends this year.  He definitely will have to work hard and play well."

"Taylor is a very solid doubles player," continued Rector.  "For the past three years, he has done nothing but win matches for us. I am looking for that same kind of veteran effort this season."

In addition to Pecinovsky returning to add depth and battle with the newcomers, Rector's program also returns senior Andrew Orens (Brunswick), junior Tyler Beaton (Bemus Point N.Y./Maple Grove) and sophomores Zach Elbin (Findlay).

As a freshman, Pecinovsky compiled a 3-3 singles mark and a 6-2 doubles slate. Orens was 3-3 in singles and 5-2 in doubles. The "wild card" in this group is Beaton, who returns to the program after not playing last season.  This fall, he will play soccer and then join the tennis squad for its spring season.  Two seasons ago, Beaton had a 4-0 singles mark at No.6 and a combined 20-4 doubles slate, including a 19-3 mark playing at No.3 with Horvath when both were freshmen.

"We feel that every returning player who is back has the talent and ability to play well at the NCAA Division III level and represent the College well in the OAC," said Rector.  "We have talent and depth and that is without knowing the ability of our newcomers.

"This season will be very interesting," said Rector.  "The fall season will be quite competitive and I am looking forward to watching our challenge matches as I believe they will be extremely competitive. This should be a lot of fun."

The Yellow Jackets open the 2011 fall season when they travel to North Canton, Ohio on Saturday, September 17 to play NCAA Division III Malone University at 10:00 a.m. and then travel to Fransiscan University in Steubenville to play a 4:00 p.m. dual match.  In addition, B-W will compete at the annual Fall ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Central Region Tournament at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri from Sept. 23-26 and at the annual Oberlin College Invitational from Oct. 1-2.

FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics