Wanted: Tennis players. Experience preferred but willing to teach. Proficiency in backhand and forehand a plus. Ability to serve will be weighed.

Opportunity for ladder-match growth and playoff advancement. Travel opportunities include trips to local high schools. All interested parties should contact head coach Scott Pellerin at...

The first month of Mt. Hope tennis coach Scott Pellerin's tenure has played out like one long want ad.

A reoccurring fruitless recruiting trip to fill out the ranks of his team's roster.

With four talented singles players anchoring the lineup, the Huskies appeared poised to trump their D-III opponents this spring.

That was before Pellerin's advance sign-up sheet garnered a total of six names. Just a week before their first interscholastic match-up the Huskies fielded only seven players, three short of the amount needed to form a full team, for a sun-splashed practice last week.

"The kids we have are solid," Pellerin said. "If we get some more kids and we don't have to forfeit matches we should have a good team. It's still too early to tell, most of these kids have a lot of potential."

As it stands however, the Huskies will at best forfeit their third doubles match, possibly their second doubles as well. Such a prospect would leave no room for error among the squad's four singles and first doubles team.

"It's going to be difficult to win any of the matches at all," said top singles player John Cruz. We've got four good singles players but to be alright we'd have to win all of our matches. That would be difficult."

Cruz atop ladder, again

Any time four players with singles experience come through the tennis ranks together the preseason buzzword should be playoffs.

This year however, the buzzword has been "who-do-ya-know?"

As in who do you know that you can get out on the court.

John Cruz, Dan Cembrola, Kevin Calisto and Rob Massa form the team's nucleus of senior swingers. But their final season may be undermined if underclassmen don't join Mark Daponte, John Coletta, Garrett Matson and Phil Johnson to fill out the ranks.

The self taught Cruz returns for a second consecutive season atop the Huskies' ladder.

"He has solid strokes and good technique," Pellerin said. "He brings leadership and experience. He sets an example for everyone else on the team to follow."

The hard-hitting Dan Cembrola will likely play second singles with 'deke-and-dunker,' Kevin Calisto ranking third.

As of last week Rob Massa was only able to attend one practice session due to heavy school work. But according to Pellerin, he is still likely to fill out the final singles slot.

"We have kids who are all solid," said the coach. "They all have the skills to keep the ball in play."

Daponte, Matson, Johnson and Coletta will be mixed and matched to find the best doubles squads. But hope is not yet lost that the team can muster two more players to add competition within the team and avoid costly forfeitures.

"We're still working on filling out the ranks," said Cruz. "We'll talk to some freshman and use coercion if we have to."

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Mt. Hope tennis 2005

'04 Graduation Loss: Russell Serpa.

'05 Returnees: Seniors — Dan Cembrola, John Cruz, Rob Massa, Kevin Calisto; Juniors — Mark Daponte, John Coletta; Sophomore — Garret Matson.

'05 Newcomer: Freshman — Phil Johnson.

'04 Record: 6-10, sixth of nine teams Class C-North.

BY ADAM COTE

sports@eastbaynewspapers.com