Newtown High School's boys' tennis team comes into the campaign with the usual aspirations to be among the best in the South-West Conference - and same old rivals in the way: Defending champion Weston, Pomperaug of Southbury, and always-tough Joel Barlow of Redding.

Not much has changed, not even the lineup - for the most part - with all but three players who graduated back in the mix. The most notable changes, however, are significant ones: Among the graduates was No. 1 singles player Keaton McCleary, and the Nighthawks have a new head coach.

Alex Bollman takes over coaching duties for the Nighthawks this spring after Brett Teolis stepped down due to work obligations.

A former player who brought his game to the collegiate level, at the University of Maryland in the 1980s, Bollman was away from the game until his son, Sean - one of his Nighthawk team members - started playing.

"Now I have the bug," said Bollman, who coached most of a season of high school tennis in California last spring before a move to the East Coast, adding that he is excited for the opportunity at NHS.

Bollman inherits a team that is hungry to improve upon last year's outcome. A season ago, the Nighthawks posted a 10-4 regular-season record, losing twice each to Pomperaug of Southbury and eventual South-West Conference champion Weston. The Nighthawks finished third in the conference, and lost in the SWC semifinals.

Varsity players in addition to Sean Bollman, who joined the team last spring, include captains Matt Carino and Joey Conrod. Other Hawks in the mix are Jordan Klein, James Frazzetta, Grant Larson, Peter Winans, Justin Oelberg, Jackson Dooley, Hans Sorenson, Matt Frazzetta, and Dino Vogiotzis. The singles ladder and doubles tandems were being sorted out this week as preseason unfolded.

"From what I've heard from the players, everybody's improved," Bollman said. "I'm really optimistic."

"I feel like we can definitely improve from where we were last year," said James Frazzetta, whose Nighthawks open the season with two potentially tough matches as Pomperaug visits on Tuesday, April 5, and the Hawks visit Barlow the next day.

After another clash with Barlow, set for April 13 at home, the Hawks visit Weston on April 20 and go to Pomperaug five days later. Matches with Immaculate of Danbury, Brookfield, and Bunnell of Stratford are sprinkled into the mix during the first three, potentially telling, weeks of the season.

Bollman wants to see his players bring a strong competition level to the courts every day.

"I like to see a little fire. I like to see points matter, game matter," said the coach, adding that he is encouraged by a strong showing of sportsmanship among teammates in preseason. "They're helping each other out."

"We've got the potential to do some great stuff during the season," Conrod added.