FERRUM, Va. -- The Ferrum College men's tennis team is set to open the 2008 season.  The Panthers will travel to Ashland, Virginia, Feb. 24 to face non-conference opponent Randolph-Macon College. 

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Ferrum is led by Head Coach Gary Holden, now in his 10th season at the helm of the program.  Holden also serves as Sports Information Director and Assistant Athletic Director at Ferrum.

The Panthers return just three players from last season's team; sophomores Chris Brown, Bob Dill and KJ Pailsel.  Dill, an Academic All-Conference selection in 2007, is the lone starter back from last year's squad that went 5-16 overall.  Newcomers include freshmen Brandon Brown, Alex Bradley, Matt Mellone and Allen Robertson.  Mellone is also a member of the Ferrum football team.

Following the Feb. 24 match at Randolph-Macon, Ferrum will take its annual Spring Break trip.  Holden and company will travel to Orlando, Florida, for a week of training and competition March 1-7.  The trip will include matches with King's College (Pa.), Moravian College (Pa.), and the College of St. Scholastica (Minn).  Assistance from tennis alum Lanny Browning is making Ferrum's Spring Break trip possible. 

Ferrum opens USA South Athletic Conference play March 28 against Shenandoah University.  The Panthers hope to improve upon last year's 6th-place finish in the seven-team USA South.