As the Salisbury boys' tennis team gets its season under way this week, the Falcons figure to be one of the top teams competing for Colonial League and District 11 Class AA crowns.

The Falcons, which finished 10-4 in conference in 2014, come off a season in which the they finished as runners-up in both the league and district tournaments. Add in six returning starters from a year ago, and the Falcons are one of the few teams who may be able to compete with six-time defending district champion Moravian Academy.

"I'd like to," head coach Rob Benson said of dethroning Moravian, "but I don't know what Moravian has coming back yet. They are always strong."

The lone loss to graduation is Ben Heydt, the Falcons' No. 3 singles player last year. Other than that, the rest of the Falcon regulars are returning for another successful season.

John Yurconic (13-3 in 2014) returns at No. 1 singles, while Mason Groff (13-3) once again suits up at No. 2 singles. Both are sophomores coming off highly successful campaigns, in particular Yurconic, who advanced to the quarterfinal round of the District 11 Class AA singles tournament. He eventually fell to Moravian's Madhav Sekar (6-2, 6-0).

"Quite frankly, he [Yurconic] is going to be one of the top two or three players in the district," Benson said. "You still have the Moravian kid who was in the finals last year as a junior."

Groff lost in the first round of the singles tournament to Moravian's Adam Kramer (6-3, 6-4).

"I would say Mason is one of the top five in the district," Benson added.

To go along with their youth on the singles circuit, the Falcons also possess plenty of experience on both doubles teams.

Jack Bonge, a senior captain, returns alongside senior Brendan Reichenbach (12-4) for the fourth season at No. 1 doubles. On the other doubles squad, seniors Aaron King and Eric Young (10-6) are also back together for the fourth time.

"Both doubles teams should do very well," Benson said. "Both singles players should do very well. I can even see some of them being undefeated."

Bonge and Reichenbach lost in the second round of the district doubles tournament, while King and Young fell in the opening-round match.

One of the biggest questions heading into the season surrounds the No. 3 singles position. Newcomer Teddy Denver, a senior, will fill that void for Benson to begin 2015.

Benson prides his teams on playing aggressive in all facets of the game. His returning players will follow that model once again that brought them their most league wins since 2009.

"We're just making sure that everybody is very, very aggressive," Benson said. "You know meI like to go at it like a linebacker. Just hit it hard, get to the net and put it away, particularly in doubles."

Results from the Falcons' first two matches were not available at time of press. Salisbury travels to Moravian Academy on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.