Timing-either you have it or you don’t. The Saint Louis University men’s tennis team is hoping that it does.
The Billikens finished off the regular season with a bang, by defeating Washington University 10-0.
All three doubles teams won and all seven singles won. The No.1 team of Jobe and Vodicka defeated Schlather and Yecheskel, 8-6. No. 2 pairing de Larzac and Curran topped Doyle and Alvo, 8-4.
No. 3 team Kwong and Paramanathan topped Lee and Feldman, 8-5.
In singles play, Ikaika Jobe defeated Brian Alvo 6-1, 6-1. No. 2 Lance Vodicka defeated Max Schlather 6-4, 6-2.
No. 3 Tom de Larzac topped Mike Feldman 6-3, 6-4. No. 4 Thomas Kwong defeated David Genovese 6-3, 6-2.
No .5 Taylor Curran defeated Chee Lee 6-4, 6-4. No. 6 Sanjeev Paramanathan defeated Shaul Yecheskel 6-1, 6-7, 12-10 in the tiebreaker.
But this success had been present all season.This year the Billikens got their revenge on teams that they lost to last year by defeating Northern Iowa, Creighton, Eastern Illinois and Marquette.
Last year during SLU’s spring season of 2001, SLU lost to Creighton 6-1, with the only victory coming from Thomas Kwong. This year however, was different.
On March 22, the Billikens got their revenge and defeated the Blue Jays 5-2 on SLU’s indoor home courts at the Wilson Racquet and Fitness Club.
“There has been definite improvement from our team this year compared to last. With the four new additions to our team this year and all of our returning players from last year, I am expecting big things to happen at the Conference USA tournament. We have been preparing for the conference tournament since the first match of the spring season and we are confident,” Kwong said.
Along with the freshmen, the Billikens’ coaches have played a crucial role in the team’s success.
“Coach Jon Zych and Coach Ryan Ray have been very supportive since the first day they arrived on campus. Their positive attitude and their enthusiasm toward the team have been appreciated by all of us,” Kwong said.
The coaches’ approach has changed the team’s outlook.
“Our top goal was to finish top 5 in the conference. We still are within reach of that goal, but we will need our top six guys overachieving,” Zych said. “This is my first season back to college tennis since 1994 and I have been very excited to work with the team and still fortunate to be the coach of this team. These are a great bunch of guys, but we still need to overachieve as athletes.”
The Billikens have achieved much so far this season, but they have one final goal to reach-the Conference USA Tournament.
The tournament will be held in Louisville, Ky. from April 18-21. Heading into the conference tournament, the Billikens have a record of 12-13 and a conference record of 1-2.
Last year in New Orleans, the C-USA Tournament was a first experience for most of the Billikens. SLU lost to Memphis in the first round and then had to play Marquette University in the consolation bracket. They gave a good fight, but came up a little short, losing 4-0.
Thomas Kwong contributed to this article.
