After losing half of their players from last year's team, the reigning ACC champion Blue Devils are aiming to repeat that success with a much younger and inexperienced squad.
"Expectations are different," assistant coach Ramsey Smith said. "It will be a very different team, but I like our chances. We can be just as strong as last year."
Duke, which begins its fall season today at the Southern Intercollegiates, must cope with the losses of three of its top players from a season ago--Ludovic Walter, Jonathan Stokke and Stephen Amritraj.
Walter will undoubtedledly be the toughest Blue Devil to replace. A four-year starter, Walter was a four time All-ACC selection and three-time ITA All-American.
The highlight of his senior season was reaching the finals of the ITA National Indoor Championships last winter with four straight wins over ranked opponents. Walter finished his career ranked fifth in the nation and was ranked as high as second during his junior campaign.
Stokke was a solid performer for Duke at No. 2 singles last year, ending his senior season ranked 51st in singles. Amritraj saw action last year at the No. 6 position for the Blue Devils.
This year's younger team will be anchored by seniors Peter Rodrigues and Joey Atas. Rodrigues was a powerful force for Duke at the No. 3 singles position last year, amassing a team-best 9-2 record in ACC play and earning All-ACC honors. Rodrigues will likely have to shoulder more of a burden this year, competing with Atas for playing time at the No. 1 or 2 position.
"Peter was not an average No. 3 player," Smith said. "He was arguably the best No. 3 player in the country last year."
Atas, a transfer from Ohio State before last season, starts his second year with the Blue Devils this fall. He played the majority of matches in the No. 4 slot last year, compiling a 13-7 record. His biggest contribution came in doubles, where he teamed with Stokke at the No. 1 position.
Kiril Dimitrov is the third returning Blue Devil that will form the base of this year's team. He saw action in the 4th, 5th and 6th singles spots last year. Ned Samuelson and Alex Stone are the other two returning players from last year's team.
Duke's freshmen consists of Aaron Carpenter, Dylan Arnould and David Lue. They are joined by Tulane transfer David Goulet, who could compete for the No. 1 spot. This season's success will likely depend on how quickly these new players can adapt to the high level of competition they will face in fall individual events and then in the spring's ACC season.
"These guys are going to have a big impact," Smith said. "Ned Samuelson and Alex Stone will also have to step up."
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