By Campbell Grant Cavalier Daily Associate Editor The Virginia men's tennis team starts off the regular 2007 season this week, and the players have trained for long hours this off-season to prepare for what looks to be a promising year.
"I think we've definitely put in a lot of work," junior Treat Huey said. "We've been working here the last year or so, and we're coming in real ready."
The Cavaliers lost three of their top six singles players and four of their top six double players to graduation last year, but they have several players who form a solid core returning this year, including Huey and junior Somdev Devvarman, who are ranked in the top 10 nationally in both doubles and singles. Devvarman advanced to the finals of the NCAA in singles last year and is shooting for the championship this year.
"Somdev, who came off being in the NCAA finals last year, has kind of picked up where he left off and he's really playing well, I feel." Virginia coach Brian Boland said. "I believe he's developed to another level over the summer."
The schedule will not be forgiving this year, with tough games against No. 3 Texas, No. 2 Pepperdine and No. 5 Illinois, all teams that Virginia suffered losses to last year. Although the Texas game is in Austin, the Cavaliers will get Pepperdine and Illinois at home in hopes of avenging last season's two losses.
"Both Pepperdine and Illinois, those two matches we played away last year, and both we lost 4-3," Huey said. "Those just in my mind are tough losses, so definitely those will be big matches for us this year."
The ACC will be tough again for Virginia this spring, with six teams ranked in the top 25 nationally, including Duke and the University of Miami who are ranked sixth and tenth, respectively.
"[Our] schedule is one of the best schedules in the country," Boland said. "Obviously, the ACC is one of the top leagues in the country," which makes the schedule difficult.
The Cavaliers start the season ranked No. 11 and could quickly move up in the rankings with wins over William & Mary, Notre Dame and Illinois in the first week. In order to beat those teams and other top-ranked teams this year, Virginia will need consistent play from Huey and Devvarman until the younger players hit their stride. The coaching staff seems excited about the promise of the young players but cautions that there is still work left to be done.
"I hope they continue to improve, and we have to be patient with them," Boland said. "They need to enjoy the process and get better each and every day."
If the Cavaliers can survive league play and the ACC tournament, they could put themselves in a position to host matches in the NCAA Tournament again this year.
The ACC should give this young Virginia team plenty of experience. It remains to be seen how much the ACC has improved since last year, when the Cavaliers only suffered two losses during regular season play and one loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament. It should be expected, though, that the Cavaliers will have a giant bulls-eye on their chest as a top team. Virginia should expect every team's best shot this year, but with strong leadership the Cavaliers should contend for an NCAA title.
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