The Saint John's tennis team begins its 2011 season by hosting St. Scholastica this Sunday, Feb. 6. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gold's Gym in Sartell.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The 2011 Saint John's tennis team looks to improve upon its seventh-place MIAC finish and 9-9 record (3-6 MIAC) from last year. The finish was the lowest for SJU since head coach Jack Bowe's first year in 1998 (eighth).

Leading the way for the Johnnies this season are junior Ian Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) and sophomore Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy). Last season, Moncada earned All-MIAC honors as a freshman by posting an 8-5 singles record (5-4 MIAC) in and a 7-7 record (4-5 MIAC) in doubles competition. Hansen, meanwhile, finished with a 9-9 singles record (4-5 MIAC) and a 6-10 record (4-5 MIAC) in doubles competition. Moncada and Hansen teamed up to post a 5-4 doubles record (4-3 MIAC).

Senior Elliott Elm (Eagan, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) and sophomore Zach Shriwise (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) teamed up to post an 8-6 record (5-3 MIAC) in doubles competition. Elm also posted a 6-10 singles record (0-7 MIAC), while Shriwise posted a 1-1 mark.

Junior Justin LaBeaux (Sartell, Minn. /Sartell-St. Stephen) finished the season 7-4 in singles (1-6 MIAC) and a 2-1 doubles record with junior Matt Peckskamp (Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen). Junior John Burns (Maple Grove, Minn. /Osseo) finished the 2010 season with a 5-3 tally in singles competition with a 1-2 MIAC record.

Moncada advanced to the quarterfinals with three victories at the 2010 USTA/ITA Midwest Regional earlier this fall, before falling in the semifinals against the No. 3 seed. Moncada and Hansen teamed up for a 1-1 record in the doubles competition.
 
The Johnnies graduated two-time All-MIAC selection Dutch Hansen, Luke Odegaard and Tyler McKay. Hansen ended his career with a 21-23 singles record (9-11 MIAC) and a 22-28 record (7-14 MIAC) in doubles competition. Odegaard closed his career with a 41-30 (22-14 MIAC) singles record and 40-37 (17-20 MIAC) record in doubles competition. Odegaard and Hanson were honored with Academic All-MIAC honors. McKay finished with 10-3 records in both singles and doubles competitions.

The Johnnies again will call three different locations home in 2011 – Gold's Gym in Sartell, the SJU tennis courts and the Donald McNeely Spectrum in Collegeville.

Bowe is in his 14th season with the Johnnies this spring. Bowe enters the 2011 campaign with a 130-125 career record (63-54 MIAC).