Thanks in large part to the parity surrounding college basketball, March has forever been referred to as "March Madness." However, amidst a disappointing season for the men's basketball team, Cavalier fans have been forced to look elsewhere for their sports fix. The men's tennis team, which has been on a tear as of late, has been providing that fix, rising all the way up to No. 2 in the latest rankings.
While many Virginia students spent their Spring Breaks at the beach, the men's tennis team was forced to travel around the state of Texas, stopping at three universities.
In their first stop, the Cavaliers found themselves at Baylor University, facing the best men's tennis team in the country. Baylor and Virginia already had faced each other earlier in the year at the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Chicago, a match Virginia lost 4-1. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers were not able to avenge their earlier loss to Baylor, falling 4-3 in a close rematch.
After their match with Baylor, the Cavaliers traveled to Texas University for a match against the No. 16 team. Despite a lack of rest, the Cavaliers were able to pull out a 4-3 victory -- but a 4-3 win is nothing to write home about. Virginia head coach Brian Boland had a different outlook on the win.
"I certainly gained some confidence from the fact that we were still adjusting to being outdoors and some injuries," Boland said.
The last stop on the Texas road trip placed Virginia at No. 12 Texas A&M University. Facing another worthy opponent, Virginia again was able to squeak out a 4-3 victory, falling behind early but mounting a solid comeback, giving them the close win.
"We were able to bounce back and deal with adversity," Boland said. "With every negative can come a positive. It wasn't that the teams played poorly. We've been having some injuries, as all teams have."
After the conclusion of their Spring Break trip to Texas, the Cavaliers must prepare for another road trip down South, this time for a match against Florida State in Tallahassee tomorrow. Virginia assistant coach Tony Bresky said the match will be a tough one for Virginia.
"FSU's a strong team," Bresky said. "They're very talented. It's their second ACC match. They're going to be ready for us. Playing on the road in the ACC is never easy."
But if the Cavaliers can maintain the same effort they put forth in Texas, they surely can come away with a victory in Tallahassee.
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