Head coach Steve Rodecap called the men's tennis season, which ended Friday at the Conference USA tournament in Louisville, "a development year" for his young team.
The team finished 11-14 in Rodecap's second year at the helm.
"We're trying to move the program forward, and I feel like we've gotten better," he said.
Rodecap and assistant coach Armando Espinosa often stressed the team's youth throughout the season; the team featured three freshmen, a sophomore and three juniors.
Troy Delmege was the team's lone senior. Freshmen Brett Binkley, Greg Sirotek and Pete Van Lieshout made up half of the team's singles lineup.
"It's hard as a freshman," Espinosa said, "because you're still figuring your game out."
Binkley, playing mostly at No. 4 singles, led the team with a 14-10 singles record.
"I think Brett was probably our most consistent player," Rodecap said. "He won a lot of matches as a freshman."
Binkley tried to downplay his individual success.
"Obviously winning is good, but it was kind of a disappointing season for us overall, so I wish we could have done better as a team," he said.
"I try not to focus on winning or losing, just competing hard and hopefully good things will happen."
At the other end of the age spectrum, Delmege finished 6-15 playing at No. 2 singles. He said he felt expectations rise in his senior season.
"I did feel pressure during the season to play better than I had the years before," he said. "I was trying to be a leader on the team to show the other guys how to perform in tight situations."
Delmege, like the team overall, was more successful in doubles than in singles. Marquette finished 35-29 in all doubles matches, winning 11 of the 22 doubles points contested this season.
The Golden Eagles finished with a 64-78 mark in all individual singles matches.
Delmege and junior Eigis Vedrickas, Marquette's No. 1 doubles team, finished with a 9-9 record.
Binkley and Van Lieshout were the most successful doubles team, finishing 13-8 and playing mainly in the No. 2 doubles slot. Juniors Ian Kawas and Ricky Servoss, the No. 3 doubles team, finished 9-8.
The team's coaches said throughout the season improving the team's consistency was a major focus.
"I think as an overall group, we still need to strive for consistency," Rodecap said.
Overall, Marquette finished 8-2 at home and 3-12 away from the Helfaer Tennis Stadium.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on April 28 2005.