The Grand Valley State University tennis teams began an attitude of determination this summer that they will carry with them to the courts this fall as the season begins. Though the official practices just started on Tuesday and Wednesday, most of the athletes have been training on their own all summer in preparation for a successful season.

“We don’t have a whole lot of time (before the first match),” said John Black, head coach of the men’s and women’s teams. “But I know everyone’s been playing all summer.”

Women aim for conference title

With an unusually large team, Black said one challenge this season will be dividing up the playing time.

The women’s team returns each of the top-seven players from last year while welcoming four new players to the program.

“All the ladies were all-state in high school,” Black said. He explained that the transition to college competition can be tough when a player must learn to be one on the team instead of a star.

The women spend their fall season preparing for the conference match, which Black said they should have a good chance to win, though it will be a close contest.

“In my nine years coaching, this is the most wide-open conference I’ve seen,” he said. “There are five or six teams who have a real shot at winning it.”

Senior Chelsea Johnston said she is looking forward to giving her all in her last season in hopes of claiming that conference title.

“The whole conference is very tough. It’s going to be who’s on their game that day,” she said. “We definitely have a chance of winning. We have to work hard to produce the results we’re capable of.”

Johnston partnered with fellow senior Daryl Ann Trout to make up the No. 1 doubles team in the region last year. The pair were ranked No. 20 nationally.

Black said he expects Johnston and Trout to continue their success.

“I know they’ll be able to do a lot of good things on the court,” he said.

But Johnston said she’s expecting some big changes this season with the addition of the freshmen.

“The line-up is going to be shaken up a lot,” she said. Johnston said the freshmen have meshed well with the team so far, and the seniors have taken to their leadership roles.

“The seniors take control of the team,” she said. “We make sure the freshmen know what they’re doing.”

The team’s first match will be Sept. 9 against Wayne State University. Their conference tournament ends the fall season on Oct. 22-24.

Men prepare for individual improvement

The men’s tennis team also competes in the fall, but as individuals rather than as a team. This year’s roster features an equal number of returners and newcomers, but Black said he is looking for the seniors to set the tone for the season.

“I hope they step it up both on the court and in the classroom,” Black said.

Senior Philip Claus said he is excited to act as a leader for what he thinks will turn out to be a “solid team.”

The highlight of Claus’ tennis career at GVSU came when the team made it to the second round of Regionals in the winter of 2008. He said this year’s team will definitely have a chance of matching the performance.

One challenge Claus foresees with a such a young team is the adjustment to doubles play. He said some of the newcomers did not play doubles in high school, which will make the switch to collegiate competition more difficult.

Junior Josh Kazdan also has high hopes for the season. Coming off a back injury during the summer, Kazdan said he is still ready for a strong season.

“Anytime you compete, you want to win,” he said.

He admitted it would be difficult to replace last year’s graduating class, but he said the freshmen are prepared.

“When you’re losing seniors and trying to replace them with freshmen, you’re going to have a rebuilding year,” he said.

The men add three freshmen and one transfer student to the roster.

Their first match will be Sept. 18, and their season wraps up with the GVSU Invitational on Oct. 1-2.

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