With 5 returning players from last year, the Ohio Wesleyan men's tennis team and director of tennis Lance Shearer look for the Battling Bishops to improve in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings.

Sophomore Max Jody (Loveland) led the Bishops with 9 singles wins last season, going 7-4 at No. 5 and 2-0 at No. 6.

Sophomore Gabe Fogle (Delaware/Hayes) tied for second on the team with 7 singles wins a year ago, playing primarily at No. 4.

Junior Kobe Francis (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River) played at both No. 2 and No. 3 last season.

Junior Rainer Holl (Williamstown, W.Va.) played at flights 4-6, and sophomore Jacob Williams (Shelby) also returns.

Newcomers who look to make an impact include freshman Marcus Bode (Powell/Olentangy Liberty), a 2-time first-team all-conference selection in doubles in high school; freshman Jared Crawford (Hilliard/Davidson), named his high school team's Most Valuable Player; freshman Ashton Galiffo (Columbus/Bishop Watterson), his high school team captain; freshman John Kenney (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley), who helped his high school team win a league championship; junior Jan Kubacek (Liberec, Czech Republic/Doctrina-Podjestedske), a transfer from Columbus State; freshman Ian Tsai (Taiwai, Taipei/Yang Ming); and freshman Dom Wise (Columbus/Beechcroft) a 2-time first-team all-city selection in doubles in high school.

Fogle led the team lead in doubles wins last year with 8, while Holl tied for second on the team with 7 doubles wins.  Fogle and Holl were the Bishops' most frequent pairing at No. 3, teaming up for a 6-6 record.  Francis had 6 doubles wins, with 5 of those coming as part of the Bishops' No. 1 duo.

The fall season opens on Sept. 8 with a non-conference match at Mount Union.