At Saint Louis University, the tennis season is coming to a close with the Conference USA Tournament starting today at Marquette University. For junior Lance Vodicka, the tournament means much more.

“As a whole team we are really psyched up. We have worked hard the whole year, it’s all built up to this point and we’ve got nothing to lose,” said Vodicka.

Even though the men’s tennis team just came off a loss to Oklahoma, Vodicka won his match there against Chris Mitchell and says it might have been his most memorable one at SLU.

“It was a monumental match for me. I had never beaten this guy before and being able to go to his home court in Oklahoma, in front of his home crowd, was one of the highest points in my career so far,” Vodicka said.

Vodicka is looking forward to next year and the opportunities that will come.

“As a team we are really looking forward to the future. We haven’t beaten many top-ranked teams, we don’t play that many, but we are still looking to build the program,” Vodicka said. “When I first came here, we were the laughingstock of the conference. This year at the tournament we will get the respect we deserve. This program has come a long way.”

After he graduates, Vodicka looks to play competitively, which is within his reach, as he earned the prestige of becoming a nationally ranked player over the summer. Vodicka is the first Billiken tennis player to earn such an honor.

“I can visualize myself playing for six or seven years, if I stay healthy and that’s what God wants me to do,” Vodicka said.

Before he can actualize his future goals, he still has to finish college, which will require him to juggle the hectic schedule of being a Division I athlete as well as adjusting to a different major.

Vodicka lives at home, which is another perk of going to school and playing tennis at SLU.

“It’s a great opportunity to play at the college level, Division I, and still be able to have a normal life,” Vodicka said. “If I were at any other school I wouldn’t be able to live at home. I am able to keep the connections I’ve made throughout my tennis career and I still have my private coach, Rich Chappuis, who has been a huge help. It’s also nice that as you grow up and you are in your last growing phase which is college, I get to do it practically in my back yard.”

Vodicka was also given the C-USA Sportsmanship of the Year Award the past two years.

“I just play from the heart and that was just how I was raised to be. I don’t want to be a hot dog or show boat, I just try to be professional and treat my opponent with respect,” he said.