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Men's tennis focusing on the present Release Date:
February 3, 2009
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
After
defeating every Northern Division team last year, but failing to
make the four-team Midwest Conference playoffs, you couldn’t blame
Monmouth College men’s tennis coach Chad Braun if payback was the
theme this season.
The MWC
Championships open with a four-team tournament, followed by singles
and doubles competitions. Only the top two teams from the North and
South Divisions qualify for the team portion and chance to win the
team title. The Scots swept their North competition last year, but
those matches aren’t counted in the conference standings and
Monmouth finished third in the South. In Braun’s mind, last year was
last year.
“I don’t think
our returners will use last year as motivation,” said Braun of the
MWC’s qualification criteria for the team competition. “We’re more
concerned about the process of trying to get better, not about last
year. We won’t worry about things we can’t control.”
If the squad is
as talented and deep as Braun suspects, they should be able to
control most of their opponents. The Scots have four returners who
combined to win 63 percent of their singles matches a year ago. Two
seniors, Kyle Korb (Quincy, Ill./Quincy) and Eric Brandhorst
(Quincy, Ill./Quincy), and two sophomores, Sam Graf (Mascoutah,
Ill./Mascoutah) and Ben Morrow (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria), will
form a solid base to match with seven freshmen.
“We’ve got some
guys who have worked very, very hard,” praised Braun. “Those guys
are prepared and ready to go. We began practice Monday and our first
matches are this weekend. We’re at a little disadvantage early
because of the conference’s mandated practice start date which is a
little later than other conferences.”
With 11 players
vying for six singles positions and six doubles slots, it’s been a
spirited competition for playing time on the opening weekend.
“We have some
really talented players, so we’ll make some adjustments to the
lineup this week,” said Braun. “Nothing’s definite yet. We’ll see
how everything develops as the season moves along.”
Korb, last
year’s No. 1 singles consolation champion at the MWC meet, could get
the early nod to stay at No. 1, but Braun warns the order is not
carved in stone.
“Kyle, first of
all, is a tremendous person,” said Braun of Korb. “He’s a great
leader. He’s changed his game over the course of his career and has
gotten a lot smarter. As a freshman he wasn’t going to beat himself,
but he also wasn’t going to beat too many people. He’s made himself
better and is now one of those players who knows how to beat people.
He’s gotten better and better every year.”
Speaking of
getting better, Graf may make a big jump in 2009. Last season, the
sophomore posted a 3-2 record at No. 4, but actually had a better
record (9-3) at No. 3. Touted as a hard worker, Graf advanced to the
conference semifinals as a freshman. Braun thinks Graf, who
“probably plays and practices more than anyone in the nation,” will
likely get the early season nod at No. 2 singles.
Although a
senior, Brandhorst is only in his second year of college tennis.
Recruited for the team as a high school senior, the talented
student-athlete opted to concentrate solely on his music major his
first two years at Monmouth. In his inaugural season as a junior,
Brandhorst put together a 10-2 record at No. 4 singles and could
move up a spot to No. 3 this season.
“I expect Eric
to have a solid year for us,” said Braun. “He’s leaps and bounds
ahead this year of where he was last season.”
Morrow could
get the assignment at No. 5 singles where he completed a 9-3
campaign last year. The athletic sophomore advanced to the
quarterfinals of last fall’s ITA Central Regional in St. Louis, Mo.
A pair of
freshmen, Chris Utterback (Aurora, Ill./Wabaunsie Valley) and Tyler
Lampe (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) could debut the season at No. 4 and
6 singles. Both have similar credentials. Utterback finished in the
top 32 in the state his junior year in doubles and was in the top 64
as a senior. Lampe finished in the top 64 in doubles as a high
school junior.
“Chris may be
our most talented freshman,” said Braun. “He has terrific strokes
and we hope he winds up being a great player for us. Tyler is also a
very talented player and should help out in the lower part of the
lineup. We’re excited to have both of them as part of the program.”
Braun will have
a healthy stable of remaining freshman to choose from. Brian Miller
(Eureka, Mo./Eureka) is a lefty who could create some problems for
opponents – as well as the coach.
“Brian will be
the first lefthander I’ve coached,” said Braun. “I’m excited about
getting a southpaw here. He’s only played tennis for two or three
years, but he’s a hard worker who is learning the game. His ball
will move differently being a lefty, so he might have a bit of an
advantage.”
Like Utterback
and Lampe, Matt Smith (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) is a state qualifier in
doubles who will add pressure to the competition for playing time.
Eric Soliwon (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) could get some
travel time early in the season as he hones his skills for the
college game. Dan Steamer (St. Charles, Ill./North) and Andrew
Wright (Quincy, Ill./Quincy), who is currently competing with the
swim team, round out the crop of freshman.
With a solid
nucleus in the singles competition, Braun is especially optimistic
when it comes to doubles. The No. 1 duo will likely be the
senior-freshman combination of Korb and Utterback. Two veterans –
Morrow and Brandhorst – are expected to play at No. 2. The pair
posted an 8-3 record last season before falling in the conference
semifinals. Graf and Lampe will form the No. 3 team, although any of
the seven freshmen could figure into the mix before season’s end.
“I feel very
good about our doubles combinations,” said Braun. “We’re a very deep
team where nearly everyone could crack the lineup. We have the
potential to be the most talented squad since our 2006 team went
22-8.”
The 2006 team
continued their dominant play with a third place finish in the
conference tournament, their highest finish since a third in 1972.
With the right combination, Braun is hoping history repeats itself.
At least the 2006 history.
Men's Tennis
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