When Virginia men's tennis coach Brian Boland came to Charlottesville four years ago, he arrived with a battle plan to make Virginia tennis the best college program in the country. Boland immediately launched two fronts: recruiting the best college players from around the nation and making Charlottesville the best place to learn and play tennis.
Four years later, his No. 3 Virginia squad is having its best season in school history, a win away from sweeping all ACC competition in the regular season. As a reward, Boland has earned an expansion at the Boar's Head, the team's indoor practice facility and the host for the team's January and February dual matches.
When the Boar's Head Inn decided to expand from three indoor courts to nine last year, Boland and the Virginia Athletics Foundation decided to present an opportunity for partnership.
"We looked at it for about a year and learned that if we partner we can increase from three to twelve courts," said Joe Hall, associate director of the Virginia Athletics Foundation.
After the details were finalized, construction at Boar's Head began. At least three of those courts will be reserved for the Virginia men's and women's tennis teams for full-time practice. Lockers, conference rooms and nearly 1,000 seats will be built for the $7.5 million expansion. The additions will allow Virginia to host national tournaments that often require indoor courts as backup. Funding for the project still remains unsettled, as the Virginia Athletics Foundation remains interested in donations for its $3 million contribution to the project.
"Brian's always envisioned having an indoor court," Hall said. "He believes we have the best university, and he's attracting the best talent. From day one, he's kind of pushed for it. Brian has pushed so hard, and the team has responded."
Perhaps most significant to the long-term success of the Cavalier program is the booming interest in tennis in Charlottesville.
"Tennis is a great game, a lifetime sport," Boland said. "We have also been fortunate to reap the benefits of just a great tennis community. I strongly believe we've even strengthened what is already a great community."
In 1977, Ron Manila, current head professional at the Boar's Head, arrived in Charlottesville. Back then, Manila recalled, McIntire Park near route 250 was his home court. Within a decade, with the development of grassroots programs in Charlottesville spearheaded by Roger Flint, tennis in Charlottesville felt its first surge of interest.
"From then on, it took off," Manila said. "As a result of everyone playing down there, all the clubs benefited from it. People wanted more opportunities to play. Grassroots were putting rackets in people's hands, giving them chances to hit some balls."
Aided by top professional talent and good coaching, the interest in tennis in Charlottesville never eased up, despite the sport's general downward trend nationally over the last six or seven years. Boar's Head Sports Complex has since hosted the Boyd Tinsley $5,000 USTA Women's Tennis Pro Championship for the last four years.
The expansion of tennis facilities not only improves Charlottesville's status on the professional tennis scene but also comes at a time when interest in the Cavaliers has never been higher. Attendance at indoor games at Boar's Head has topped 300 this year. With a top product on the courts, Charlottesville had a team tennis fans felt it deserved.
"The U.Va. teams were always a part of it," Manila said. "It spurred a lot of enthusiasm into the U.Va. teams. They brought tennis to the spotlight."
As Charlottesville tennis and the Virginia men's team are both on the rise, Manila said the expansion project only makes sense.
"Our facilities warrant expansion," Manila said. "Partnering with the U.Va. tennis teams has been, pardon the pun, a perfect match."
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