A 6-2 loss at home to Farmington last Thursday dropped the Lake Orion boys? tennis squad to 0-3 on the young season, but new head coach Lance Davis isn’t measuring success on wins and losses just yet.
The team lost its top three singles players from last year and their top two doubles tandems, all to graduation.
That left Davis, the junior varsity coach a year ago, with a very inexperienced crew heading into the 2007 campaign.
Davis said he is looking for steady improvement from his players as well as their improved understanding of the game and the level of competition.
‘If we improve there, they’ll have something to strive for,? he said.
Already, Davis said the improvement has been noticeable. And, with only five seniors on the roster, he expects big things down the road.
‘If everything pans out, next year is a year where we can really compete for the league and do well at regionals,? he noted.
The team’s most experienced player is Blake Young, a senior who has moved up to #1 singles after playing at #4 singles last year.
After dropping the first set against Farmington’s Quentin deSaegar, Young battled back to take the second 6-2. He also tied the third set at 5-all after being down a break, but ran out of gas in the end falling 7-5 in spite of a few impressive diving efforts down the stretch.
Calvin Walker, Michael Westcott and Chad Erdman round out Davis? singles unit.
Juniors Evan Wharton and Robert McLean teamed up at #1 doubles and senior Dan Weimer and freshman Adam Ilenich did the same at #2 doubles to provide LO with their two victories versus Farmington.
Davis is hoping for big things from both tandems.
‘After Blake in singles, our next strong-suit is number one doubles,? he said. ?(McLean) had an outstanding summer and really improved his game.?
Juniors Pablo Ortega and Brandon Klos (#3 doubles), senior Brian Gellish and freshman Tyler Barry (#4 doubles) and senior Chris Frasher and junior Brian Arsen round out the varsity squad for Davis.
‘We’re using this season to try to establish a winning atmosphere,? Davis said.
‘With repetition and understanding comes growth.?
The coach had five players on the current roster on his J.V. team a year ago.
‘The rapport I had with those guys helped make my transition to varsity a little more smooth,? Davis said.
‘What we do with the J.V. is try to develop a love for the game, an interest in tennis,? Davis said, noting he has seen that appreciation develop even more this year at the varsity level.
Former varsity coach Eric Bracciano took a position at an area club, but Davis said he has still worked a bit with some of the squad.