The last time the entire Penn State men's tennis team played a match was in late October. Now it opens the spring season after a two-month layoff, but fatigue and rust should not be an issue.

When the No. 50 Nittany Lions open their spring season with a doubleheader against Colgate and Lehigh at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center, they will be doing it with a new coach and without one of their captains.

Senior co-captain Brad Hunter, who finished in the round of 32 in November's Big Ten Individual Championships, will be out for Sunday's doubleheader and for at least three more weeks with mononucleosis.

While Penn State will be without one of its captains for Sunday, Penn State coach Todd Doebler said that the team is more than capable of filling his shoes.

"Every team faces injuries and illnesses. Brad is a very experienced player but we have a lot of guys stepping up," Doebler said.

Stepping up won't be a problem. Penn State has five players: sophomores Brendan Lynch, Adam Slagter; junior Michael James and seniors Ryan Berger and Hunter ranked in the top 30 of the ITA Northeastern region. No other team in the region has as many ranked in the top 30.

James and Slagter are beginning the season ranked No. 23 in doubles, while Lynch is No. 95 in singles.

Colgate and Lehigh were both 3-3 in 2006 Patriot League spring tennis play. As Penn State was ranked No. 1 in the Northeastern region last year by the ITA, both Doebler and Hunter expect both Colgate and Lehigh to play an energetic match.

Despite a two-month layoff, the Lions shouldn't have to worry about any rust -- a credit to Doebler's practices and training, according to Hunter.

"The first match you sort of are [rusty]. It takes a little time to get back into," Hunter said. "I feel it's going to be a lot easier. Coach has us play a lot of matches in practice and we beat each other up in practices."

Doebler attributed the players' dedication for their current fitness to keeping up their workouts even over the winter break.

Doebler -- who took over for interim coach Bill Potoczny in July -- had his first taste of the team in the fall season, coaching the Lions through four tournaments.

"Overall, the fall season was a success. I feel we transitioned well with the changes in the program and everything went smoothly," he said.