The SJU tennis team begins its 2010 season with two home matches against nationally-ranked opponents this weekend. The Johnnies play host to No. 27 Luther (Iowa) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and No. 18 Carleton at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Both matches will be held at Gold's Gym in Sartell.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The 2010 Saint John's University tennis team looks to improve upon its 9-9 record (5-4 MIAC) in 2009 as it returns a handful of players that made considerable contributions last year.  

Seniors Dutch Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) and Luke Odegaard (Forest Lake, Minn.), as well as sophomore Ian Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) are expected to lead the way for the Johnnies in 2010. 

Last season, Dutch Hansen earned All-MIAC honors in singles competition with a 10-10 (5-4 MIAC) record and an 8-10 (5-4 MIAC) mark in doubles, while Odegaard posted an 8-11 (5-4 MIAC) singles record and an 8-13 (3-6 MIAC) tally in doubles competition. Both players have a career winning percentage over .500 as Hansen is 15-11 in singles competition and 18-14 in doubles, while Odegaard is 28-20 in career singles competition and 30-24 in doubles. 

Ian Hansen, Dutch's younger brother, led the Johnnies last spring as a freshman with a 12-8 (5-4 MIAC) singles record.  He finished 7-11 (5-3 MIAC) in doubles competition.

Senior Tyler McKay (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) also had a good 2009 season for the Johnnies. He finished last spring with a singles record of 4-1 and 3-1 mark in doubles competition. McKay has a career record of 12-4 in both singles and doubles competition. 

Sophomores Matt Peckskamp (Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen) and Chris Voigt (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) also contributed as freshmen last spring. Peckskamp was 4-4 (1-1 MIAC) in singles competition, while Voigt posted a 5-7 (1-2 MIAC) singles mark and a 1-2 record in doubles competition.

Freshman Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy) will likely make an immediate impact at the upper singles matches for SJU.

The Johnnies will again call three different locations home in 2010 - Gold's Gym in Sartell, the SJU tennis courts and The Donald McNeely Spectrum in Collegeville. 

SJU is scheduled to play nine MIAC matches and five non-conference contests this spring, The Johnnies will travel to Puerto Rico for their spring break trip Feb. 27-March 5. The 2010 MIAC Tournament is scheduled for May 7-8 on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter.

Saint John's tennis coach Jack Bowe begins his 13th season with the Johnnies this weekend with a 121-116 career record (60-49 MIAC).