For the first time under his tutelage, the Trojans return their entire varsity lineup from the previous season, including a singles player who placed sixth at state.

"It's exciting to have my entire varsity back," Unruh said, adding the understatement of the year: "That's really a plus to start the season."

The positive start to this season may have actually started midway through last season when Unruh shuffled his lineup by moving then-juniors Kyle Kroeker and Macy Fadenrecht from doubles to singles.

The pair blossomed in those roles, and so did the team. Kroeker went on to place sixth at state while Fadenrecht just missed qualifying.

"If we hadn't had such a loaded regional, anywhere else (Fadenrecht) probably would have made it in singles as well," Unruh said.

"I think the singles are set (for this season)," he added. "Kyle is definitely going to be No. 1 and Macy will be No. 2. That's pretty salty. We should probably be able to win several tournaments just because of that."

But the Trojans will be strong in doubles play, too, with the return of senior letter-winners Peter Fast, Robert Jost and Ric Johnson and junior letter-winner Caleb Barkman.

How those four will pair up remains to be seen, Unruh said.

"The next four are so even. Right now, nothing has stood out as to who's the better of the two," Unruh said.

"Last year I ended with Robert and Peter together, and then Ricky and Caleb at No. 2. Well, Ricky's really improved, Robert's continuing to get better and Caleb has performed pretty well so far in preseason. I've already done some mixing, but I don't know yet."

But the good news doesn't end with an experienced top six.

"We have experience, but the added benefit is that we have some other young guys here, too," Unruh said. "The varsity returners still have to earn their spot.

"We've got some young ones coming up who are going to be pretty decent. It may not happen this year, but they are going to push the bottom side of the lineup all year. So, that's good."

Those "young ones" are freshmen Clay Shewey, Nolan Dirks and Joe Fisher, plus sophomores Ben Heyen, Mark Prieb and Matthew Brown.

"I'm assuming at the beginning that my returning varsity players will be my varsity lineup," Unruh said. "Maybe a freshman might jump in there at the end, I don't know. "

With enough players for a full junior varsity, Unruh is lining up tournaments to season them.

"There's good potential coming in, which is good when I have a heavily senior-laden group at the top," he said. "Potentially, the top five being seniors makes me a little nervous for the season to come. But this year it sure makes it look nice."

Unruh expects perennial power Wichita Collegiate to be the early favorite again in the Mid Central Activities Association. He sees Hesston, Smoky Valley and the Trojans as the top challengers.

In addition to hosting its two annual tournaments-the Trojan Invitational April 6 and the Hillsboro Invitational May 8-Hillsboro recently received word it will host one of the Class 3-2-1A regional tournaments May 15.

The regional field is yet to be announced. But with Collegiate's return to Class 3A after a stint in 4A, the path to post-season success will be even more crowded this spring.

"That's makes it definitely more loaded when it comes to state time," Unruh said. "Usually, we don't get paired with them in our regional, though."

Prior to spring break, even the mild weather had cooperated with developing Hillsboro's tennis potential.

"We've had a little more practice than we've had before," Unruh said. "I know we're so much farther than we were at this time last year. That's comforting.

"The potential's there," he added. "So I guess we'd better succeed.