The Virginia men’s and women’s tennis teams are preparing to host the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, which will begin today. More than 45 schools will be represented by the 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams, for both men’s and women’s tennis, that will meet at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
Only the “elite of the elite for the college tennis world” will compete in the tournament, Virginia women’s tennis coach Mark Guilbeau said. “I wish our whole team could play.”
Among other tournaments held earlier this fall, the U.Va. Invitational and the ITA All-American Championships have prepared Virginia men’s and women’s players for the Indoor Championships. Both Cavalier teams use these fall tournaments as early tests and training grounds for their spring seasons.
“Everything our team does in the fall, we evaluate and review and learn from,” Guilbeau said. “This is a great rework for a few of our veteran players ... Hopefully we can progress to a level to where most of our team can compete.”
The Virginia men’s team will be without last year’s National Indoor singles champion, All-American alumnus Somdev Devvarman; however, when quality players leave a team, other talented team members often step in to fill the void. The Indoor Championships will be a good indicator of who might shine in the coming season to meet the team’s high standards of competition.
“Obviously Somdev had a great career here, but it was time for him to move on,” Virginia men’s coach Brian Boland said. “This provided a number of opportunities for players to step up and develop. They knew coming in that they would need to bring their game to another level this year to maintain our level and our expectations.”
One singles player who has consistently met Virginia’s expectations is senior Dominic Inglot, who enters the championships ready to defend his spot at No. 18 in the country.
“It is my last National Indoor tournament, and I am going to make this my best year,” Inglot said. “I am playing very well right now, and this could be a good chance to do well.”
On the women’s side, 13 of the top 20 players in collegiate tennis will participate in the Indoor Championships. Guilbeau said he knows the Virginia teams will try to take advantage of this opportunity to see such high-ranked players in action and will use it to their benefit later in the season.
“Hopefully we prepare at the highest level all the time,” Guilbeau said. “I am excited for the entire team to watch, not just the girls playing. They will get some experience even though they are not on the court. They can see the highest level and know that is what they are striving to reach themselves.”
Junior Jennifer Stevens is also sure to gain valuable experience on the court, as she will face some of the most difficult opponents in the collegiate singles ranks.
“She has had some good solid results this fall,” Guilbeau said. “And this is the best fall seed she has had.”
Seniors Maggie Yahner and Amanda Rales will team up in doubles competition, and will challenge themselves to meet, if not exceed, the level of their opponents.
A tournament like the National Indoors “really heightens your awareness, and you want to play well at a big event,” Yahner said. “I have been focusing and thinking about it more because of the higher level of competition.”
Holding such an event in Charlottesville means a lot to both the men’s and the women’s teams, and they are hoping for an impressive turnout.
“I think a lot of the fans will be coming out because it is one of our biggest tournaments behind the NCAAs and maybe the [ITA] All-American [Championships],” Inglot said. “To host it here will be incredible.”
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