Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Badgers hope for continued growth from young team

Scoreboards can show as many numbers as they want, but what is not visible are the off-court elements such as team morale and mental toughness, which are equally important in any tennis match.

And the mental aspect of the game is what propelled the Wisconsin men’s tennis team through its five-game losing slump to a much-desired first conference win over Penn State on Sunday.

With ranked opponents like Ohio State and Illinois in the Big Ten conference, the Badgers anticipated a trying season. They did not foresee, however, finishing the season without winning a single conference match. According to head coach Greg Van Emburgh, the 5-2 victory over the Nittany Lions instilled some timely confidence in the young Wisconsin squad.

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“In some of the matches, the end result score wasn’t a good indicator, but if you looked at matches individually, you could see that the guys were competing well and you saw that we were on the right track and improving,” Van Emburgh said. “I think getting a signature win and a conference win like Penn State really shows that we have turned the table.”

There is no denying that the youthful Badger team of four freshmen, five sophomores, two juniors and no seniors has been competitive in each match despite the losing record. Wisconsin has only been swept 7-0 on two occasions, including its recent loss to the No. 3 team in the nation, Ohio State.

When observing the results of individual matches, as Van Emburgh said, it is apparent that each player puts up a fight, even when the match ends in a loss. For example, No. 1 singles player Fredrick Ask has only suffered two 6-0 set losses in the Big Ten this season despite possessing a record of just 1-6 in conference singles play. This competitive nature can be seen across the board in singles play, indicating that youth does not mean total vulnerability.

“All of the guys have really grown and matured in the last month, and we are really hoping that they are going to continue to do that and go out there and execute their tennis game,” Van Emburgh said. “If they do that, we are going to have some strong outcomes.”

Oftentimes when teams are young, a coach will refer to the season as a building year when anticipating less than successful results because of the lack of experience.

Van Emburgh has often mentioned the value of gaining more experience with every match played, despite the outcome. This accumulation of experience is particularly beneficial to a young team; however, it has not changed the way the Badgers attack each matchup. The head coach acknowledges the youth of his squad, but rather than treating this year as a transition season to a more mature team, he increases his expectations.

“We are really a young team, so we are looking for guys to step up in all areas on the tennis court and finish matches,” Van Emburgh said. “We also want them to step up in leadership positions, whether they are on the court playing at that particular time or off the court and rooting their teammates on.”

Nearly all members of the Badger’s team have been called upon to step up at different points in the season. Due to lingering injuries that cause inconsistent appearances by key players such as junior Billy Bertha, the lineup is constantly changing. In Big Ten play this season, the Badgers have never shown the same lineup twice. The coaching staff frequently indicates that the changes are made based on potential matchups and performance in practice that week.

One player who has seen a significant change in his role from last season is sophomore Rod Carey. Appearing most frequently in the No. 5 singles spot during the 2010-2011 season, Carey began this year in the No. 3 position, where he earned a winning record of 3-2. His performance was enough to bump him up to No. 2 where he is currently 2-4.

The latest combination seemed to be the right one for the Badgers, as it earned them their first conference victory. However, as the lineup often changes, it is hard to predict whether Wisconsin will finish out the four remaining conference matches with its past roster. No matter the combination, Carey and the Badgers believe the worst of the season is behind them, and they want to complete the season on a high note.

“We can gain confidence from the fact that everyone is playing well,” Carey said. “I think that on the court we need to focus on finishing stronger than we started in these last few matches, because I think we have a chance in all of them.”

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