Men's Tennis At EWU Fall Classic This Weekend
9/20/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
SPOKANE, Wash. - With the start of the fall season on the horizon, Gonzaga University men's tennis coach Peter MacDonald knows this could be the beginning of a big year for his team.
"We were very successful last fall," MacDonald said. "I am hoping we can do the same this year. We open at Eastern Washington and I expect good results. Then we can build on that for the rest of the fall tournaments and be prepared for the spring season."
Starting Friday, the team will be on Eastern Washington University's campus for the EWU Fall Classic. With three newcomers, MacDonald acknowledges it is a great opportunity for Hayden Smith, Vicente Varas and Joseph Brandt to get their feet wet.
"For many of the returnees, they know what to expect," MacDonald stated. "However, for the freshmen, I think most are going to be surprised. There is a lot of depth in tennis at the collegiate level. I find that most freshmen comment on how many good players there are.
"With that said, they will find success. The first collegiate victory is always exciting and something to build on. I wish each the best because there are no easy matches at this level," MacDonald noted.
The EWU Fall Classic is an opportunity for veterans to build confidence for the spring as well. MacDonald expressed his excitement to see his team on the court playing against different competition.
"Our guys will go out there and do the best they can," MacDonald said. "That is all I can really ask and that is all they can ask of themselves at this point. If they can focus on execution, each will find success."
With the fall schedule building in terms of difficulty as it goes on, MacDonald says the experience will be beneficial for veterans Vladimir Mijatovic, Alvaro Nazal, Pablo Mosquera Pérez, Levin Guillermo, Chris Dalton, Muzeen Ismath and Jack Schoebel.
"This first tournament at Eastern Washington, and the entire fall schedule, is great preparation for the spring," MacDonald said. "The schedule builds going into regionals, so this will help me to begin setting my line-up and see what doubles pairings work."
After the EWU Fall Classic, the Zags will travel to Boise, Idaho, for the Boise State Tournament Oct. 5-7. Two weekends later, the Bulldogs head south for the ITA Regional in Moraga, Calif., Oct. 19 to 21. Gonzaga closes out the fall docket with the PNW Tournament in Seattle, Wash., Nov. 2 to 4.
With a packed scheduled, MacDonald made it clear; it is key to have a clear picture of his double pairings at the end of the fall.
"Figuring out the doubles situation is a focus for us," MacDonald said. "Our doubles were definitely our weakest aspect of the team last year and we need to improve. My goal is the find the right combinations so we can compete and win in the spring."
MacDonald knows he needs help preparing the team for the grind and that is where senior captain Olivier Jamin has embraced a leadership role for the eighth-year head coach.
"He has really stepped up for me," MacDonald reflected. "He does so much for me. Not only does he keep the guys organized and focused on the court, but he does everything right off the court. He is tremendous in everything he does for me and he could possibly be the best captain I have had at Gonzaga."
The fall season is a unique opportunity for the Zags and, in the long term, it will be critical for his young team.
"We are talented," MacDonald said. "If we execute and improve as the season goes on, we can do some good things this year."
