Familiar foe awaits men’s tennis team in opener
When the Utah State men’s tennis team takes the court for the first time this year, it will not be facing Idaho State University in a season-opener for the first time in three years.
Utah State will square off against a familiar foe, however, as it hosts the Air Force Academy on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club.
The Aggies and Falcons faced off in USU’s home opener a year ago, with the Falcons prevailing 6-1. However, the 6-1 score was anything but a blowout. USU lost all three doubles matches by two games or less, and lost two of the six singles matches in three sets.
In their two three-set losses, the Aggies dropped the first set in both matches. Winning the first set in those two matches could have made a world of difference, and will be important come Friday, Aggie Jason Trask said.
“The first set is really, really critical because it’s a mind game,” he said. “Once you have that first set, you usually have a lot more confidence if you’re playing to win and not playing to lose. For me, winning the first set is a big load off the shoulders.”
While getting off to a good start, especially in the season-opening match is important, USU Head Coach Chris Wright said he feels it is more essential the Aggies match the Falcon’s level of intensity.
“I know Air Force is going to come out here with a lot of intensity,” he said. “In the past when we’ve played them, they’re not an overpowering team, but they’re going to fight for every point. They’re going to dive on the court, and they’re going to want it bad, so it’s going to be about matching [Air Force’s desire].”
Playing with a lot of determination is a must against a team Wright said he feels has a similar level of talent to his squad. He also said it is imperative the Aggies keep their level of intensity in check.
“We’ve got to play well, and we’ve got to play in control of our emotions and use them to our advantage,” he said.
With Wright expecting tight matches at every position, he said the team that plays an aggressive style of tennis in key situations will most likely emerge victorious.
One way Wright said his team can gain the upper hand is by attacking the net, especially looking for balls that drop well within the baseline.
“We need to do a good job on any ball that drops shallow in the court,” he said. “We need to hit a good approach [shot], get into the net, and force their hand and see what they’ve got.”
Although Trask said he knows USU is in for a tough battle, he said facing a team like Air Force, as opposed to a lower caliber team to start the season is ideal.
“To start off the opening season match with a tough opponent will be a very good start,” he said. “It will get us focused, and we’ll know where we’re at as a team and as individuals.
“We can definitely win this match, but it will be tough,” he said. “It’s winnable, but it won’t be easy.”
–jasonwturner@cc.usu.edu