Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Spring Break 2016 – A Full Heart After a Full Trip

It is with such wonderful pleasure that I sit down to write about our Spring Break this year.  I love that in college tennis, as good as one year is, the next is fresh and new as the people on the team change and grow.  Growth has really been the theme of our season this year.  It’s something that I’m really proud of in our program overall, that our players improve so much on court and learn so much as people.  This year’s team has been incredible because of the immense talent that they bring and the strong desire to push themselves to constantly be better and find out how good we can be.  This requires a certain mindset of loving the process of growth.  This process is inherently full of both pain and joy.  After what was an outstanding start to the season through our non-conference matches, the Winter Classic and the first half of our conference season, if there was one thing I wanted from the team it was for them to enjoy how great they are and how far they’ve come in such a short time.  This theme of being fully present in the moment and celebrating success as well as responding positively to failure really came to fruition over this week.

We had a two-part spring break this year.  Starting in Portland, we faced the task of coming off of midterms, driving and playing teams we’d already played.  Against Willamette, who we previously beat 9-0, the challenge was to start with great energy and focus and not take them for granted.  We did exactly that, winning 9-0 again, rotating our lineup and playing really solid tennis. 

This effort spilled over into the next day as we completed our home and home with Linfield.  After a really great home win 7-2 in February, we took 2 of 3 doubles to start strong, but Linfield looked hungry taking all three first sets (match on 3 courts indoors at Linfield) at #1,2 and 3.  The positive response from our team was incredible, with Allie and Mary both fighting back to win in 3 sets and with our depth, even though JD lost, being up 4-2 with three matches to go was huge for us.  Jenna’s journey this year has been an incredible one that continues to inspire and motivate us all.  Coming into the year, she and I may have been the only people who really knew what she would face as our #1 and the hunger and excitement JD brought to that challenge propelled her to the best tennis of her life.  After rehabbing a mild injury, Jenna was not at her best this day, but used the match to rebuild her game and by the end, she was firing at a level that could beat anyone in the country again.  Our depth was truly on display as Cello, Lil J and Hanna all won in straight sets.  The ability of the sophomores to step up at this point in the season has been so huge for us because it’s allowed our talented first years room to develop at a pace that can be sustained and built on continuously all season and throughout their Whitman careers.

In the end, it was another 7-2 win, this one on the road after midterms was even more impressive to me and it gave us a great boost before heading to California to run our win streak to 5 straight matches.  I also can’t thank enough the parents who cheered us on, kept us fed (thanks Val and Ken!) and the Farrell and Whittaker families for hosting us. 

After the Linfield match, there was time for a quick shower, a hello to super alum/fan/W Club board member Lynn McKelvey, and of course a trip to Portland wouldn’t be the same without Salt and Straw ice cream!  Then it was on a plane to California!
Salt and Straw in Portland

Love our personality on and off the court!
Our week in California started with fun times with the Webster’s in Long Beach and with a trip to the BNP Paribas pro tournament at Indian Wells with the Greenberg’s.  If you’re a tennis fan, you have to go to Indian Wells at some point, what a terrific event and memorable experience for our team.  We capped off our two days off with a practice at USC’s new facility thanks to Maddy’s longtime coach and friend Peter Smith and then had an amazing dinner with the Dobrin’s.
Enjoying practice at USC with Peter

At the BNP Paribas in Indian Wells
We then hunkered down in Claremont for 4 exciting matches.  We started off with one of our best team efforts of the year, playing a terrific match to win over #36 UT Tyler 9-0!  I was so proud of the doubles energy and great efforts especially from Hanna and Lil J who each played really good dubs and then had to battle in long singles matches; the grit on display was tremendous from all, especially these two.  It was a great day for both Allie and Lindsey.  Allie really being the captain we needed in dubs and then rolling with great confidence in singles and Lindsey winning the first singles point by finding her game early and not giving the Patriots any room to comeback.  These two really know and trust their games and that really propelled us in doubles and singles.

Team support is key for us and here is the team supporting Jana vs CMS
The next day we played #4 CMS on their courts.  This was a great measuring stick for us as the Athena’s really utilized their talent and athleticism well and made very few mistakes.  We felt right with them, but also learned a lot in a tough 9-0 loss.  It was a match that will help everyone build on their mental toughness as we just gave away too many free points.  Lori came away with an exhibition win and JD and Mary battled one of the nations best 1-2 combos incredibly well in competitive matches.

Watching the Whitman Men play #2 CMS - did this fan base lead Phil and Zach to a win at #1 doulbes....
Friday was our third match in 3 days and though Vassar has had some tough losses to drop them out of the rankings, they are a very good team and we found ourselves in an intense battle from the start. A huge win from Hanna and Mary kept us in it after dubs down 1-2.  Allie is so often at the heart of our success and is so central to who we are as she demands incredible sportsmanship and support from herself and the team; and she went to work winning in straight sets and displaying her leadership and improved calm under pressure to tie things up.  Lindsey never really got into her groove, but gave everything a coach could ask for in her match so we were down 3-2.  The other straight set matches had Lori (who has steadily been displaying outstanding performances to earn a big top 6 match) blitzing through the first set 6-0, then fighting her way through a second set tie break 8-6 for a straight set win.  JD on court one battled in two long close sets but lost so with Mary and Cello in third sets, we needed them both.  I was on the bottom courts so didn’t see Mary’s match, but the cheers of our team and our Men’s team who all came to watch told me, she was winning in the third.  Mary has been so solid for us and every week, we see the payoff for her hard work at practice as her habits get better and better and keep her in matches until her natural instincts take over.  
So it came down to 4-4 with only Cello’s match on.  In team tennis, you have to have awareness of the whole match but somehow stay focused on the points you are playing.  Cello lost her first set 0-6, but maintained a positive attitude and belief in her game which propelled her into a third set which she led from the start.  Midway, her opponent played two great games to retake the lead and serve for the match at 5-4.  Undaunted, Cello combined offense and defense to break and hold and then she fought for one last break to win 7-5 in the third and clinch us the match.  5-4 matches that come down to the final set can be terrifying, or as I see them, super fun.  It means on this day the two teams are neck and neck and the final match is a closely contested one.  This day, it was an incredible match where both players played well, were composed, had great sportsmanship and it came down to a couple points here and there.  I’m so happy for the team and for Cello in fighting this match out, applying the lessons learned in previous matches and really going after it when it counted.  The way she played this match was more important than the win, but the win for the team is huge in continuing to have confidence and believe in all scenarios.


The match was over, but Lil J still battled at #7 and the team still supported in yellow!
With three great matches under our belts we had a light practice and day off before fishing vs #14 Chicago.  This is a team I’ve never coached against, but they are a very talented group and I couldn’t wait to play them.  In this test, at the end of a long trip, against a higher ranked team I am so happy that the match was such a battle.  We ended up losing 8-1 with another impressive performance from Cello, but JD and Mary went three sets and we won the 7 and 8 matches with Lori and Jana winning in straight sets.  These two matches were huge for us as Lori continues to grow and need challenges so we can figure out just how good she is right now - this was a great indication that her steady, positive diligent work is coming through on court.  Jana’s match was especially gratifying because she has been a model team player while working to adjust her style of play.  The work she’s putting in is starting to show up more and more consistently and this was a big time affirmation of that – so look out for this incredibly talented super athletic Whittie. Allie played another good match losing to a great player who had a great day and Lindsey got her rythym back in two well played sets while Lil J also played her best match of the week, nearly fighting it into a third set.  Our doubles is really coming around and it didn’t show on the scoreboard, but Mary and Hanna continue to improve at 1, Cello and JD are sitting at the edge of a huge breakthrough and the Allie/Lindsey and Lil J/Jana teams are both finding their identity and provide us with great doubles depth.  All in all, this match could have swung the other way and it shows that we’re in a terrific place heading into April and our final three weekends of conference play.

I’ve done a lot of team trips and they are all special, but this one felt like such an amazing team experience on and off court, where each day was truly meaningful in providing wonderful tennis, great times together, and an appreciation for the amazing support we have.  I love coaching this team. In particular, the constant growth keeps me so hungry to get back on the court together, to learn, improve, and mostly to enjoy every moment playing together.

Thank you so much to the team for your outstanding character and attitudes, to our families and friends for beyond incredible support and to our men’s team for getting us through the Vassar match and being such an awesome team to share this experience with.  Most of all, this would not have been near the trip it was without the superhuman efforts in all areas from Coach Maddy.  Seeing her grow from a player and leader on court into a seasoned coach gives me joy beyond what I can express in writing.

We’re now in the midst of a week off (YES, IT IS NOT JUST A GREAT RECRUITING TOOL TO HAVE A 2 WEEK SPRING BREAK, BUT A NECESSARY BREAK IN THE LONG COLLEGE TENNIS SPRING), and I can’t wait to practice Monday and get ready for our senior/family/alumnae weekend April 2-3rd when we rematch #19 Lewis and Clark and up and coming George Fox at home.  If you plan to be there, please let me or Coach Maddy know, we’d love to share the good times and some special events with you.

With tennislove from Walla Walla,

John



Tuesday, March 8, 2016

The Battle of Whits

At Whitman, any contests between ourselves and our neighbors to the north in Spokane are always a big deal.  And with our schedule being a 1 and a half round robin in conference, this year we played the Pirates once and had to do it on the road at their place.  It was a great day for the Battle of Whits as we started the day with a resounding 8-1 win and then in the nightcap our men's basketball team upset #3 Whitworth to move on to the sweet 16 of the NCAA tourney this weekend!

Our day started brightly as our hosts the Fennessy's were outstanding and got us a good nights sleep and a solid start.  We were well taken care of once we arrived at Whitworth with Emily Rolston (Anthropology 2012, Century Club member) and her dad Layne coming from Missoula to cheer us on and provide yummy healthy snacks, thanks so much Layne and Em!

On the court, we decided Jenna could use another couple days rest from a mild injury and Cello was battling a nasty illness so hadn't been able to train much that week.  Fortunately, our team is so deep and it was incredible to see everyone step up and play great start to finish earning a big win and building our momentum as we head into spring break.

In doubles, Allie and Lindsey set the tone winning easily, but Hanna and Mary were in a close battle from the start and Jana and Lil J got down 0-4!  It was great to see #3 dubs fight back and establish their presence pushing the Pirates to a tie break.  At #1, we were trading breaks but couldn't find any separation and give a lot of credit to Whitworth for the 8-6 win, which has done nothing but fire up Hanna and Mary in practice this week - watch out!  In the tie break, Jenna and Jana showed tremendous composure, served great and played great at the net to take it and give us a 2-1 lead going into singles.

Here, on 3 courts with players stepping up, Allie and Lindsey again led the way with efficient straight set wins.  Mary started slowly but won 6-3,6-1 at #1 to clinch the match.  After that it was just wonderful fun to see Lil J, Jana and Lori go to work to sweep the singles and send us home with a well deserved win.  Jenna D added great coaching and Cello found energy between coughs to be a huge cheering presence start to finish.

Allie was our Whittie of the match for her ruthless efficiency, making good players look very pedestrian and I was also impressed with Lil J and Jana fighting against opponents who competed with a ton of heart and made them work for each point.  Finally, it was cool to play in the bubble (not something I usually say as I'm spoiled with our wonderful outdoor courts and indoor facility) because Lori was flat out unloading on the ball, cracking winners that echoed off the walls and led to thunderous cheers from the bench.  Her strokes have been great from day one, but to see her build so much strength is a testament to her adjustment to life and school in the US as well as her incredible work ethic putting in extra fitness and tennis - always with a smile.

Stay tuned for news from this weekend as we travel to Oregon to rematch Willamette at 10am Saturday and then Linfield at 10am Sunday before we fly to California for our spring break trip!

If you're in the area, come on over to Salem and McMinnville to cheer on this amazing group of incredibly talented student athletes.

Cheers,
Coach John