Author: Hillary Holmes
Composed of both veteran players and eager first-years, the men’s tennis team has high hopes for the year in light of its season-opener win.
On Jan. 28, the team annihilated Glendale Community College with an 8-1 win. Spencer Choy (first-year) and Stephen Perkins (first-year) won their doubles match and demonstrated that the pair is a vital force on the team. Perkins and Choy, in addition to captain Victor Sowers (senior) and Chris Wan (senior), also won their singles matches.
Oxy doesn’t technically host any “home” games because eligible SCIAC schools need at least six courts and Oxy has only four. Consequently, the team travels to the Burbank tennis center about 15 minutes away to play matches. A typical tennis practice includes running speed drills, then practice with volleys, serves and returns.
The team has also increased its conditioning practices off the court. The team practices informal singles and doubles so they can challenge each other and produce winning matches. With no partner for support and encouragement, one-on-one singles matches can get intense. “You don’t have a teammate to rely on, so you just have to gut it out,” said Sowers. “This can make for really emotional and physical battles on the court that are fun to watch.” Doubles matches are equally exciting for players and spectators because, as Sowers said, “they are quick and explosive.”
The tennis team works extremely hard but is often disappointed by its lack of a sound student fan base. “Nobody ever comes to matches, though, so I don’t see why they’d start now,” Wan said about the discouraging situation.
The team’s inability to host home games makes it hard for students to come and show their support for the team.
“Students should definitely come support a team that hasn’t had much support in the past,” Jamal Fahim (senior) said in an e-mail interview. “It would be great to have some fans cheering us on and pumping us up!”
The team’s tight-knit relationship contributes to its skill on the court. In addition to attending extra conditioning practices, players also get together informally to play against each other and keep up their game. They keep their bond strong with barbecues and dinner outings. Though the team has its third new coach in four years, all of the men feel unified by their love of the game and the competitiveness and friendship it produces.
The men’s tennis team will play Pomona-Pitzer on Feb. 19 and Whittier on Feb. 20.
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