Virginia tennis fans, prepare for the weekend of your lives.
With the No. 12 men's team and the No. 65 women's team each facing a pair of top-20 squads, the Snyder Center will be a hotbed of tennis excitement tomorrow and Sunday. The men will take on No. 18 North Carolina and No. 14 Texas Christian University, and the women will face No. 3 Duke and No. 12 UNC.
The importance of these matches, especially for the men, cannot be underestimated. Men's coach Brian Boland considers fan support to be a crucial element for the team this weekend and will be giving away Virginia tennis T-shirts to the first 150 fans tomorrow.
"This weekend is particularly important as we play two tough opponents," Boland said. "This is one of the best weekends we've had in a long time, and it always gives the guys an extra boost when we can get people to the match. Any athlete loves to perform in front of an audience."
Home-court advantage has had major benefits for the men so far this season, and the crowds have been interesting, to say the least.
During the Cavaliers' tight come-from-behind win over Wake Forest March 20, the players were cheered on by fraternity brothers and pledges clad in diapers, duct tape, folding chairs, pizza boxes and other unusual apparel. The rowdiness of the fans visibly rattled the Demon Deacons and allowed Virginia to rally for crucial points.
"It's a circus at the Snyder Court," sophomore Darrin Cohen said. "You never know what to expect."
Cohen guaranteed that his fraternity brothers from Phi Society will attend the match, as will members of Zeta Psi, Rylan Rizza's fraternity, and members of Nick Meythaler's St. Anthony Hall.
The young and energetic crowd not only pumps up the team but also distracts opponents.
"A lot of opponents let the fans and the noise get to their head," Meythaler said. "It definitely distracts them."
Rizza said it is easy to tell when your opponent is getting bothered by the hostile crowd.
"As soon as your opponent starts talking to the crowd it is definitely in his head and affecting how he's playing," Rizza said.
While the women may not have the benefit of fans bearing cases and forties, they also feel like they have a home-court advantage.
"It makes a difference when you have your friends and family supporting you," junior Dora Bechliwanis said. "You also get used to your own court. Every court is different, like the speed of the court. You just feel more comfortable."
Women's coach Phil Rogers recognized the downside of playing at home. He cites boyfriends, academics and social life as distractions that can potentially plague the Cavaliers during a home match. However, the women's team will be unable to avoid the din of family and friends this weekend given the importance of the matches and the fact that the men's and women's matches will be overlapping at some points.
"I love having matches with both men and women there," Rogers said. "There's a lot of electricity in the air -- there's a real tennis atmosphere. I personally love it, and I can't imagine the players not getting off on it a little bit too."
The women's team has struggled recently, having lost their last six matches, dropping them to 9-8 overall, 0-3 ACC. Wins this weekend would mark a drastic turnaround for the Cavaliers.
The men's team, on the other hand, is looking to continue its climb up the rankings and best season start in the history of the program. A win over the Tar Heels would avenge last year's 3-4 loss at Chapel Hill and put the Cavaliers one step closers toward an ACC title. If the men top TCU, it will be the highest ranked team Virginia has ever beaten.
This weekend's four matches will provide entertainment for seasoned tennis viewers and first-timers alike. The Snyder Center will indeed be a circus -- if the tennis doesn't hold your attention, the party in the stands probably will.
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