Men's Tennis ventures outdoors to win

Dreams of an escape from Oberlin and a Spring Break replete with sleep and relaxation keep most students going through midterms. The men's tennis team, however, powered its way through midterms fired by the anticipation of a week of non-stop tennis.

The Yeomen's journey to Atlanta included five matches in six days, one of which was cancelled due to poor weather. Tough competition and a change in playing surface were obstacles the Yeomen had to overcome, and they did so with grace, substantial gain in experience and a 2-2 record for the week.

Head coach Chris Barker said, "We played tougher teams as the week went on. We won the first two and lost the last two, but we were always playing better. We just ran up against some really strong teams."

Junior Koji Ebersole, one of the few returning members of the tennis team, said, "What was important about Spring Break was that we played some really worthwhile opponents. We really got dusted, which was good because it gave younger team members experience with real competition."

Besides stiff competition, the other big change was playing on outdoor courts for the first time all season. Barker said, "We had to adjust to playing outdoors. It's a different surface and the ball goes slower."

First-year Peter Swendsen said, "Oberlin courts are fast. It was a big adjustment to make. We haven't even been able to practice outside so the first match was our first time playing on outdoor courts."

After returning from Atlanta, the team traveled to Denison for a sound beating. Barker said, "We started off very slow, which you can't do. We did not win a single spot. If we played as we're capable, this would not have happened. We need to step it up starting with the first serve."

This weekend, the team is traveling to Wooster for the Great Lakes College Association Tournament. Coach Barker hopes to "figure out a way to get warmed up more efficiently so that we are ready to win the first set and so we're not still warming up or figuring out the opponent."

The future for the team looks promising. "It's looking like a positive couple of weeks are coming up," said Swensen. "We're getting close to being the team we want to be."