NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University men’s tennis team opens its 2010 season on Sunday at Old Dominion’s Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

The Spartans will take on a new look this season, debuting two new players and a new head coach. Matthew Halfpenny takes over as the Spartans’ first-year head coach after the retirement of Nathaniel Warren last summer. Halfpenny and first-year assistant coach Torrie Browning welcome back three players from last year’s 4-8 team in senior Keenan Ruff (Norfolk, Va.), junior Arsenio Culver (Philadelphia, Pa.) and sophomore Jonathan Sessom (Houston, Texas). Ruff compiled a 1-5 singles record last season, while Culver went 5-4 and Sessom went 3-9.

Culver, who played at the No. 2 singles position last season, will likely join with Old Dominion transfer Ben Marks (Worcestershire, England) to fortify the top of the Spartans’ lineup. Marks went 4-0 in singles dual matches as a freshman last year for the Monarchs before transferring. Both Culver (6-4 teamed with Sessom) and Marks (15-8 at ODU) had success in doubles matches last year, as well.

NSU’s other newcomer is freshman Dexter McDowell (Suffolk, Va./Kings Fork HS). McDowell joined the team as a walk-on in the fall and has impressed coaches with his work ethic. He will balance out the middle and lower portions of the lineup along with Sessom and Ruff.

The Spartans were picked to finish fourth in the MEAC’s Southern Division behind defending MEAC champion South Carolina State, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman in the preseason poll of head coach and sports information directors.

“There is a lot of potential in all of our players,” Halfpenny said. “As coaches, our goal is to bring out the best in each player while taking their games to new levels. We hope to build on their skills, but more importantly their belief in themselves and the program.”