NORFOLK, Va. - A strange year will continue for Norfolk State men's tennis this week when the Spartans kick off their 2021 spring season. NSU returns three players from last year's team, which saw its season cut short after just five matches due to COVID-19. The Spartans will look to put that behind them with 14 matches on the docket over the next few months.
 
They will look to rebuild after the loss of last year's No. 1 and No. 3 players in the lineup. Per an NCAA national decision, players could return without losing a year of eligibility, and the other two seniors who did will help stabilize this year's squad. Three new players, meanwhile, will help fill out the lineup that returns just three players total from last year.
 
In addition to losing a good portion of the 2020 season, NSU also had limited practice in the fall due to a delayed return to campus and a shortened semester. The Spartans will also be under new leadership with Larry Holmes, who was hired as head coach in January. Holmes will serve as the third head coach for the program in the past year.
 
But the Spartans can put all that behind them when a new season commences this weekend. They kick off the 2021 campaign Saturday at Old Dominion. It will mark the first of 11 non-conference matches for the season. MEAC play takes place in early April.
 
Prior to the cancellation of the season last March, NSU had finished second in the Northern Division four straight years. For the Spartans to get back to that level and even elevate the program from there, it will take a commitment from both sides.
 
"It is going to take a lot of work and a high level of buy-in," said Holmes. "Our two seniors, from having conversations with them, they are buying in to the process of us trying to be champions. Our staff is going to do everything to help our players reach the top."
 
One of those seniors who will play a big part in NSU's success this year is former first-team All-MEAC honoree Andres Alcaraz. He returned for a fifth season to build on his 9-1 career MEAC singles record. He has competed at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the lineup during his time at Norfolk State. After the loss of last year's No. 1 in Vini Da Silva, Alcaraz could once again lead the way for the Spartans.
 
The second senior who took advantage of the eligibility relief is Ignacio Guevel. Another player with a stellar MEAC singles record at 7-1, he started his career at No. 6 singles but was holding down the No. 4 spot by last year. With limited experience among the rest of the players on the team, Guevel will also help anchor the lineup no matter which position he falls into.
 
"Having Andres and Ignacio come back for their fifth year, that has been a huge plus for our program," said Holmes. "They want to be back. They both love NSU to death. They would like to see the program do well. They would also like to achieve some success of their own. That was one of the main goals they stressed to me. They want to go out on top."
 
NSU will count on two players with limited collegiate experience to help fill in the gaps. Sophomore Ibrahim Abbas joined the program last spring, making his way to the United States from his native Pakistan. He played in just a handful of matches last year at the No. 5 spot before the season was cancelled.
 
Old Dominion transfer and junior Federico Rebecchini competed in eight dual matches and a handful of tournaments during his first two years with the Monarchs before coming to NSU in the fall. He is familiar with the competition he will face in the conference after picking up several singles and doubles wins against MEAC players while at ODU.
 
Two true freshmen joined the program for the spring semester. Ivan Ivars ranked as high as 24^th in his age group in his home country of Spain. He was a national tournament champion and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Spain Championships. Colombia native Santiago Rendon will round out the trio of newcomers for the Spartans. He stood as high as No. 531 in the ITF junior rankings during his younger days.
 
Despite their lack of collegiate experience, the younger players will not be jumping into the lineup completely green either.
 
"The difficult part is trying to get these newer guys in the lineup and find out where they stack up against competition," added Holmes. "The good thing about these new guys coming in, two of them have international experience, and one of them has played on the college level (Rebecchini). We are not lacking in the experience department. It is just a matter of us having cohesiveness and playing as one."
 
NSU will play at least 14 matches this spring, with the possibility of more additions to the schedule as the season moves forward. Along with ODU, NSU will compete at Virginia Wesleyan and VCU before the month of February is up. The Spartans' first home match will occur on March 13 against Temple at the NSU Tennis Courts, with ODU arriving on March 21. Other home matches include North Carolina Wesleyan (doubleheader on March 26) and Virginia Wesleyan (April 7).
 
MEAC play begins April 2 at Howard, and this year's MEAC Tournament will take place from April 24-25 at ODU's Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center. Only the top two teams from each division will advance to this year's tournament.