Snyder Tennis Center, resting in the heart of the Grounds, is the perfect outdoor venue for University students to appreciate a cordial afternoon tennis game. But more than the tennis fans, the Virginia men's tennis team has much more invested in today's matchup against Maryland.
Riding a 12-game home winning streak, the Cavaliers (17-2, 5-0 ACC) have dominated their ACC slate. Virginia has dropped only three conference singles matches and only one doubles match. Up for grabs as well is the regular season conference title, whose presence on Virginia's trophy shelf would add a partner to the Cavalier's first ACC championship last year.
Virginia's winning streak at home spans its contests outdoors at Snyder from last year and this year as well as their indoor games at the Boar's Head Sports Complex. This year, the crowd at the Boar's Head has topped over 200 country club members. The fans who come to Snyder, however, are the ones for whom the players enjoy playing.
"Both facilities are great," junior Rylan Rizza said. "Boar's Head is a great place to play, but Snyder's a lot more accessible to fraternity brothers and college students. More people attend, and more of a university crowd gets to attend."
The No. 3 Cavaliers have one more game to use as a tune up before their clash with No. 5 ACC powerhouse Duke. But first, the Cavaliers must take care of business as the Terrapins come to town. Despite its recent success, Virginia remains wary of facing a struggling Maryland squad (8-8, 0-6 ACC).
"The coaches have warned us about Maryland," freshman Somdev Devvarman said. "We can't look beyond them. We have to be prepared to play every game."
Though the Cavaliers have won many games this year in convincing fashion, head coach Brian Boland has expressed disappointment in the team's consistency. After the indoor season ended, the Cavaliers have yet to peak. Opponents who should have been put away early are allowed to get back in matches. In particular, Boland demands more from Rizza, the team's No. 2.
"Rylan's a very competitive player," Boland said. "But he needs to channel that energy onto the court for every point."
In the ITA rankings released today, four Cavaliers went down in the singles ladder. Doug Stewart slipped from No. 8 to No. 11, Rizza fell from No. 56 to No. 59, Devvarman dropped from No. 15 to No. 17 and Darrin Cohen slid from No. 48 to No. 50, despite collectively having lost only one match in the last two weeks.
In doubles, however, the Cavaliers climbed in the rankings. Rizza and Nick Meythaler's duo rose from No. 41 to No. 32, and the tandem of freshmen Devvarman and Treat Huey emerged at No. 60.
No players from Maryland are ranked. Competition for the doubles point begins today at 3 p.m.
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