For the women's tennis team, the end of the tennis season is almost certainly near. For the men's team, however, the season is just beginning.
This weekend, both teams will compete in the ACC tournament in Cary, North Carolina. While the women are expected to do little after finishing a disappointing 2-8 in the ACC, the men have stormed through the conference with a perfect 9-0 record, including wins over fellow ACC powers Duke and Clemson.
Riding a 14-game conference winning streak, the Cavaliers have certainly played like the defending ACC champions are expected to play, with only one of their conference wins decided by less than two points.
This year's Cavalier tennis squad has dominated despite working newcomers into its six-man rotation. Freshmen Treat Huey and Somdev Devvarman both stepped into prominent roles on the team and played very well from the outset. Devvarman has compiled a stellar 7-1 ACC record playing mainly at the No. 3 position, and Huey has posted a similar 7-1 ACC record playing behind him in the No. 4 slot. The pair also has teamed up to form a very successful doubles team that currently holds the No. 47 ranking in collegiate tennis.
This year's tournament will be the freshmen's first, and they recognize the need to follow up on last year's championship with another strong showing.
"This is my first ACC tournament," Devvarman said. "I have to live up to the expectations the rest of these guys earned last year."
Virginia coach Brian Boland said he has been pleased with the performance of Devvarman, who has rocketed up the ITA rankings to No. 26 after beginning the season unranked. Against Clemson, Boland moved Devvarman up to the No. 2 slot, and Devvarman rewarded the decision with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Clemson's Sander Koenig.
"Somdev has played terrific tennis," Boland said. "He showed [against Clemson] his ability to play at a very high level. He moved well, showed patience, and played smart."
With the post-season rapidly approaching, though, Boland has stressed the importance of a total team effort, which he views as necessary to fulfill the team's lofty expectations. The coach remains concerned that the team has not played up to its enormous potential, with too many players slipping up and having off days in recent matches.
"It seems like every match that there's a couple different guys that don't play as well, and other guys step it up another level," Boland said. "When it comes to the ACC tournament and the NCAAs, we need to get everyone to another level."
The Cavaliers' most serious challenge will likely come from the No. 2 seed, the Duke Blue Devils, who lost to Virginia 4-3 in Durham April 8th. If both teams play up to their seeding, they likely will meet up again in the ACC final Sunday.
Junior Rylan Rizza said he likes Virginia's chances against Duke.
"I feel like we're the favorites" if we play Duke, Rizza said. "Especially if we have to play outside. Duke's better inside. I think on a windy day like [against Clemson], we crush Duke."
Virginia obliterated Duke last year in the ACC tournament with a 4-0 thrashing that the Blue Devils will remember heading into this year's tournament. The Cavaliers will have their hands full with the revenge-minded Blue Devil squad. If the Cavaliers play up to their considerable talent level, though, another ACC tournament title may await them.
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