As it turns out, the Crusaders didn’t even come close to hanging with the Lowell boys. In fact, the Cardinals didn’t lose a single match, completing a clean sweep of their purple-clad foes, 8-0. This season’s squad is so special, the Crusader-pounding wasn't even the highlight of their week. On March 9 and 10 the tennis squad topped fifteen Bay Area schools in route to a two-day Freedom Tournament title. Lowell had never been invited to the tournament, so their 43-3 record was a bit of a surprise, even to themselves.

"We weren't sure what to expect," senior doubles player Greg Balter said. "It turned out to be a combination between the other teams not being that good and Lowell being dominating."

Though the tournament title was undoubtedly a boost to the team’s confidence, their coach has done a good job keeping their egos in check.

According to Balter, the big week had no affect on coach Terence Doherty's seemingly perpetual state of tranquility. "He never gets overexcited," Balter said. "After the tournament he just said 'good win.'"

Meanwhile, the team continues to prepare for the start of the AAA regular season through dreaded "Rosenheim-workouts," — practices run by assistant coach Jimmy Rosenheim. The work outs are notorious for leaving participants gasping for air and hardly able to walk after copious amounts of running.

One of Rosenheim's drills, "liners," are particularly exhausting.

"They are so hard," senior Kevin Tang said. He described the drill as players running from the baseline to various points in a procession of sprints that get longer and longer. Though they may be unpleasant, Tang admitted, "they are worthwhile because they increase endurance for game-day."

The Cardinals will need the extra endurance as they host Sacred Heart today at 3:15 p.m. and then kick-off their regular season at 3:30 p.m. on Tues. March 27 against Galileo.