Participating in one of the most competitive sports in the NESCAC, the men's tennis team knows it must take advantage of the fall portion of its season in order to properly gear up for the elite squads it will face come springtime.
In a conference that featured five teams in the nationwide end-of-season rankings for Div. III tennis last season — Middlebury, Williams, Bowdoin, Trinity and Amherst — the Jumbos understand that improving on last year's trifling 2-6 NESCAC mark is a top priority.
And while those indisputably challenging match-ups remain several months away, the fall season offers the team a chance to gain confidence in anticipation of a spring run to the conference tournament.
The fall season, which kicks off today against Salve Regina, is light for the Jumbos and includes two dual contests and a pair of tournaments, all meant to help prep squads for the more important gamut of spring matches.
The Jumbos relied on the strength of their singles play, earning an 8-7 overall record last season; but when they needed it most, especially in NESCAC competition, the doubles teams simply couldn't win. Indeed, Tufts launched its spring campaign in March with two consecutive 5-4 losses that saw doubles swept in both contests.
Clearly the team needed a change.
"The coach has concentrated on a lot of team-building for the doubles this year and I think it's going to pay off," said Vinh Tran, the lone senior on this year's squad.
The shuffling of the doubles lineup last year might have cost the Jumbos a number of matches, placing a priority on sorting out the doubles ladder much earlier this time around in order to avoid the same types of 3-0 losses on the doubles side.
"Doubles may actually be our strength this year," coach Doug Eng said.
With hopes placed on improved doubles play, the Jumbos are looking to earn a bid in the conference tournament, something that eluded them last season following key losses to conference rivals like Amherst, Bowdoin, Williams and Bates.
At singles, the team must overcome the loss of its captain and former No.1 player Will Fleder (LA ‘08). Despite the void, the gap at the top of the ladder has spurred a healthy competition for the right to play opposing teams' lead starter.
For a team that saw nine of its 12 roster spots filled with freshmen and sophomores last season, the added year of experience for those once-younger players will prove an important asset for the Jumbos. Indeed, during preseason practices, the team's depth has emerged as an apparent strength.
"At this point, the lineup looks like everybody can play everywhere since no one player is necessarily playing better or worse than the others," junior captain Bryan Wilner said.
And with the departure of just two players from last year's squad, Fleder and then-junior Drew Frankel, the team remains a cohesive unit, as the players are already familiar with each other, giving them a level of comfort and understanding on the court.
Additionally, this intimacy can help the incoming freshmen — three of whom could find themselves in the starting lineup according to Wilner — transition to the collegiate level with relative ease.
"Coach Eng did a great job of recruiting freshman talent for us," Wilner said. "These guys are pretty good."
This year, Eng has also implemented a new workout plan focusing primarily on conditioning and fitness, which includes a trainer coming down from the fitness center to help monitor the team's preparation for its upcoming three-week fall season.
Today's contest against the Seahawks will mark the Jumbos' third match-up in as many years against Salve Regina, which Tufts has beaten by scores of 6-3 the last two seasons. The true benefit of the match, however, lies in the experience of that first competition.
"We usually beat them, but it's important for the freshmen to get a feel for what these matches are like," Tran said.
The first match also provides important information for Eng when it comes time to create the spring's starting lineup. While he has seen how the players practice, on-court play during real matches will be instrumental in finalizing the ladder.
