Varsity collegiate players are used to being the best. Most were their team's MVP in high school, played on elite club teams, and were highly recruited by several programs at the intercollegiate level.
But many find the transition from go-to player to role player a rocky one, and senior tennis tri-captain Paul Roberts was no exception. A three-sport athlete competing in basketball, tennis, and soccer, Roberts was on cloud nine during his post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter.
He played against current North Carolina point guard Rashad McCants, NBA star Carmelo Anthony, and current Tufts basketball center Dan Martin, but found the most success on the tennis court as a four-time New Hampshire state champion, a two-time New England semifinalist, and a Boston Globe all-scholastic honoree. During his PG year college search, Roberts had his heart set on playing tennis for Div. I Boston College.
"It was kind of a setback when I had to settle for a Div. III school," Roberts said.
The frustration continued in his freshman year, as Roberts, who believed he could be a key contributor to the team, was relegated to the No. 7 spot upon arriving at Tufts, playing the exhibition matches in each competition.
"I was irate at the coach," he said. "I even beat the No. 1 player on our team at the time. It was not a fun experience because at No. 7, it's really hard to feel part of the team."
Roberts went from a feeling of exuberance and confidence a year earlier to one of anger and disappointment. The team was struggling and as a freshman, Roberts thought he could do better than the starters.
"That was a tough year," Roberts said. "The team was supposed to do really well and when you are No. 7, you just want to play in a meaningful match. I thought I could do better and help the team."
According to Roberts, McCants once called him "feisty" during a basketball game, and that characterization stayed with Roberts ever since. Though he does not have fancy strokes or jaw-dropping hits, Roberts has few attributes that might impress coaches looking for style points. Rather, it is his athleticism that stands out.
"I think of myself as an athlete playing tennis," Roberts said. "It was tough convincing coach of my strengths."
Robert's closeness with some of the older players, particularly former captain Adam Yates (LA '05), paid off. Roberts matured into a leader on the varsity squad and took the initiative to improve his game while helping his team.
"Adam was tremendous," Roberts said. "He is someone that told me to stick with it and he was close with coach at the time and he told him about my abilities and strengths."
Ironically, it was Yates who ended Roberts' undefeated streak in high school tennis. Roberts was 45-0 until Yates finally handed him his defeat.
"I had 15 match points and Yates still came back and beat me," Roberts said. "The next week I beat him in the New England Championships, so we definitely had a bit of a rivalry and Adam appreciated my game."
The next year, Roberts moved up to No. 3 singles and started 5-0 before breaking his finger, but by then it was clear that he would be a mainstay on the tennis team. Slowly, Roberts started to provide the same leadership that Yates instilled in him a year earlier.
"He has been really good at strategizing and a really strong leader at making other players feel comfortable," said senior Ben Alexander, Roberts' co-captain on the 2006 squad. "This year, with the top four singles players all being basically even in ability, we have been able to find the best matchups for our players."
Roberts has encountered firsthand the competitiveness that tennis can bring out between teammates jockeying for the precious few top spots on the ladder. To combat this, he has fostered a better team atmosphere, encouraging players to spend time together to ease tensions that might crop up because of close competition.
"We are always having team lunches," Alexander said. "Our team has become extremely close."
Aside from his off-court role as captain, Roberts has experienced strong success over the past two seasons and is trying to stay healthy.
The highlight of Roberts' season came last Sunday, when he tied Williams' top-ranked player, sophomore Daniel Greenberg. Greenberg is one of the better players in the NESCAC and the region, having beaten Div. I Dartmouth's top seed, junior David Waslen.
"It was a great feeling," Roberts said. "Coach Eng sent me an e-mail that night saying that I could be one of the best 10 players in the country. And the Williams coach commented that it was the most he had seen Daniel Greenberg struggle in a long time."
Last year, he came very close to defeating Amherst senior Lenny Lepner, a top Div. III player. But even with his personal accomplishments, the team did not break the .500 mark in 2005.
Immediately after the season, Roberts worked to revamp the practice schedule, and his more focused approach is starting to pay dividends. The team rebounded from three shutout losses to NESCAC teams with two huge 5-2 weekend wins over Wheaton and Bowdoin, bringing the team's overall record to 4-5 with four more matches left to play.
Although Roberts has another year of eligibility, it is unlikely that he will exercise the option.
"If they would pay me to come back next year, maybe I would do it" he said. "Otherwise, I have probably put together my last preseason practice schedule."
