If nothing else, the Battlefield boys tennis team knows it will have two chances to get everything right.

The team enters the regular season in a different spot from last year in that there are no seniors. However, there are plenty of juniors who will likely still be with the team next season, despite Patriot High School opening this fall.

Typically in Prince William County, rising seniors do not need to transfer when a new school opens, regardless of where they live. They can complete their education at the school they spent their last three years.

That creates a positive situation for the Bobcats, as juniors Andreas Revalik, Christian Maddox, Junaid Siddiqui and David Donaldson started the season as four of Battlefield's top six players, which means their matches are among those that count for points in varsity competitions.

According to head coach Stephen Davis, who's been with the team since its 2005 inception, the team does not "have a guaranteed win at any one spot" but it does have "guys who are capable of winning" up and down the line up.

Davis is counting on Revalik to provide the spark and leadership at the top of the line up as the team's No. 1 player that he hopes will continue to improve throughout the season.

"He's worked his way up the ladder the last three years," said Davis, adding that Revalik "understands the difference" and talent level that is associated with being the highest seed on the Battlefield roster compared to his days lower in the line up.

Davis said that Revalik knows what it takes to "play at that top level," as do Maddox, the team's No. 2 hitter, and freshman Justin Lee, who starts his high school career in the No. 3 slot.

Those two are Revalik's training partners and are "able to hit the pace that the other top players are now playing at," Davis said.

He said that Maddox and Revalik are the Bobcats' top doubles team and, at this point, what he would like to see from both players is consistency in their approach while maintaining their pre-established good attitudes.

Maddox works well with Revalik in that he rarely gives up "free points," the coach said, meaning that Revalik has to work for the ones he gets instead of counting on miscues from his sparring partner.

"A lot of high school tennis is about the other guy making mistakes," said Davis. "He understands that concept; he makes kids earn their points."

Revalik's strong suite is his ground strokes, according to the coach, and he's excellent on his feet when running side to side.

"For us, he's the best at keeping that ball in play," Davis said. Simply doing that gives Battlefield a "good chance to win," he added.

Revalik's game is strong from the baseline where he "puts himself in the absolute best position before coming for it" at the net.

That allows him to keep composure in tight situations and broaden his court awareness, which, as in chess, allows him to anticipate his opponent's next move even better.

Oddly enough, while Davis is excited about the talent he has at the top of his roster in Revalik, Maddox and Lee, it's the second tier of players that may be able to project Battlefield to wins this season after two opening losses.

Those players "should be the backbone of the team," he said, explaining that, from fourth place on varsity to the top two spots on JV, "there's not a huge talent drop off."

What that means for Battlefield is potentially hidden points.

As of the opening week, Davis was still determining exactly who he wanted in what spots throughout the year, but the first two matches provided him a chance to observe each player and figure out who is clicking.

"I think these early-season matches are fantastic to prepare for the end of the season," he said. "[The players] will peak at the end of the year....We'll do well collectively as a team. We'll have a new hero every day."

Siddiqui, now a third-year team member, is "like the leader of my lower half," Davis said. His job is to pull the guys together in practices and get the "backbone" concept across.

Lee and Siddiqui are doubles partners to start the season in the No. 2 seeding, behind Revalik and Maddox.

In the No. 5 spot, second-year member Donaldson is "very coachable," Davis said, and that he swings for the fences every time he hits.

With a laugh, Davis said that allows him to connect for a big "winner" or "miss it," but as his season continues, the coach expects his increased disciplined will lead to good results.

"He's always moving forward," said Davis.

Freshman Bryan Quach secured the final spot on the varsity roster with sophomores Aleco Reynolds and Niklavs Barbars not far behind in the seven and eight slots.

Quach recorded a shutout in his first match of the year and "could challenge" his teammates for a spot as the No. 4 or 5 player if his playing stays consistent.

Among the rest of the squad, Quach earned the No. 6 seed after he beat "everybody that's challenged him," Davis said. "He's firmly entrenched in that spot."

Davis complimented Quach's forehand and said he can use that "as a weapon" throughout the season."

This year, the coach said he is focusing his team on winning big matches within the Cedar Run District and just convincing his players that they have the ability to win any game, especially given that the other top teams, like Loudoun Valley, lost ace seniors to graduation last year, just like Battlefield did.

"You can't rely on any one person each match," said Davis, explaining that he doesn't want his lower seeding banking on wins by his top seeds every time out. "You've got to take care of business on your own court."