Spirits and expectations are high as the University of Dayton men's tennis team's 2010 campaign begins this weekend in East Lansing, Mich. for the Michigan State Invitational.

The Flyers return from a sub-par 6-18 record during the spring season under first-year head coach Eric Mahone, but there is plenty of optimism with a very different Flyer squad from last year. Five new freshmen join the team in 2010, composing half of the entire roster and igniting a revitalized youth movement.

"There's a lot of optimism about this freshman class," co-captain and lone senior Mike Koscielski said. "All of the freshmen are extremely talented with a lot of room to grow; the program is definitely heading in the right direction."

The schedule is set up to test the young Flyers early and give them opportunities to showcase their skills with trips to Michigan State and Purdue for the first two tournaments of the fall season.

"The fall is much more laid back, much more individualized and getting your feet on the ground; easing your way into college tennis (for the freshman)," Koscielski said on the difference between the fall and spring seasons. "A lot more time is put in inside the weight room. A lot is expected in terms of development and growth, including weight training to get stronger and faster."

Along with the excitement over the youth of the team, the head coach is another reason the program seems headed in the right direction. Eric Mahone finds himself in year two at UD, and his presence is already being felt in more ways than one.

"This year, in practice, it has been way more intense," Koscielski said. "Everyone is bringing everything they have every day, and the positivity surrounding the team is off the charts."

Off the court, there is a lot of talk about Mahone's recruiting skills which landed a deep and talented class led by Alex Crum out of St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kent.

"From a team standpoint, it should be a much different environment, hopefully leading to a much more successful campaign," Koscielski said. "In terms of expectations, there aren't any lingering feelings from last year. We want to win the conference tournament. That would be the ideal way to go out, to get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament."

The 2010 men's tennis team has many of the necessary elements for an improved and exciting season, hopefully culminating in a trip to the NCAA's for the first time in program history.