Aliso Niguel

Coach: Rich Ruhlen (fourth year).

1996: 16-4, 8-2 in Pacific Coast League, lost to San Marino in Southern Section Division II quarterfinals.

Key returners: Victor Carone, doubles, Sr.; Chris Flynn, doubles, Sr.; Burt Gonzell, singles and doubles, first-team all-league, reached round of 16 individual doubles; Chris Kan, No. 1 singles, Jr.; Sean King, singles, Sr.; Jonathon Lippert, doubles, So.; Dan Semaan, singles and doubles, Sr.; Tyler Verdieck, doubles, Sr.; Amir Yazdanshenas, singles and doubles, Jr.

Key newcomers: Mark Hutchison, doubles, Sr.; Jason Mednick, No. 3 singles, Fr.

Outlook: It took Aliso Niguel’s football team four years to win a league title. The boys’ tennis team appears to be on the same track. Ruhlen returns nearly everyone from a group that challenged the county’s top teams last year. With seven seniors among the top 11 players, the Wolverines have one of the county’s deepest and most experienced teams. They should battle University for the league title and they might have enough to make a run at a section title.