The Virginia men’s tennis team will attempt to keep the ball rolling this weekend, as the Cavaliers look to add to their win column and continue their undefeated spring season.
The team dispatched its first two ranked opponents of the season last weekend, defeating No. 15 Illinois and No. 30 Notre Dame. Virginia will next face Arkansas in its opening round of the ITA National Indoors Qualifier Friday at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. Saturday, the Cavaliers will face the winner of the East Tennessee State and Wisconsin matchup.
Virginia holds the No. 5 ranking nationally and though none of its potential weekend opponents have cracked the polls, the team remains focused. Victories in the two qualifying rounds would lead to a trip to Chicago in February for the National Team Indoor Tournament and a chance to defend last year’s team crown.
Though the team enjoyed a higher ranking last year, weighing in at No. 1 throughout the entire season before losing in the NCAA semifinals, this year’s Cavaliers are also talented and perhaps more importantly, very deep.
“We certainly have a lot of options with our team,” Boland said. “We have more depth than maybe we’ve ever had.”
Following the departure of No. 1 player Somdev Devvarman, a two-time NCAA singles champion, Virginia’s roster has opened up. Sophomore Michael Shabaz is the team’s highest nationally ranked player, sitting at No. 11 in the preseason polls. Virginia coach Brian Boland, however, has penciled senior Dominic Inglot in at the top spot, while Shabaz plays in the No. 2 position. Despite Inglot’s lower national ranking, he has enjoyed success thus far; he remains undefeated in his matchups against top players. Shabaz, too, has had few issues dispatching his opponents this spring.
Inglot has been a major factor in the Cavaliers’ early success, finally playing at full strength after a shoulder injury this past summer. His first four season victories earned him ACC Tennis Player of the Week honors, and he has showed few signs of slowing down. Of those four wins, two came against opponents with higher national rankings than his own.
“[Inglot], being a senior and being provided the opportunity, has certainly taken advantage of it,” Boland said. “Hopefully his streak continues. He’s playing well, and he’s getting better with each match. He’s just gifted.”
In addition to this crop of talent from veteran players, some younger athletes, including freshman Drew Courtney, have also contributed to the team’s success.
Courtney continues to gain swagger after playing in his first home collegiate matches this past weekend, and the qualifier should offer more of the same experience. The pressure of the home opener did not appear to faze him, and Boland said he expects continued growth and success from the newcomer in the future.
“It’s tough, especially when we played at home Friday night in front of a packed stadium,” Courtney said. “It was such a cool experience, and I was just thriving in the moment.”
Courtney is just one example of a Virginia player ahead of the learning curve; Boland said the entire team seems to be improving faster than expected.
“We’re a little bit ahead of schedule,” Boland said. “We continue to gel as a team. Everybody’s working hard and really developing individually, and we’re coming together collectively as a group. It’s an exciting time for our program.”
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