University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Tennis Outlook
January 19, 2004 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 19, 2004
Tennessee head coach Michael Fancutt can't help but smile when he thinks about the many strides that the Vol tennis team has made since he took over the program in 1998. And despite a sub-par year -- according to Big Orange standards -- in 2002-03, Fancutt is smiling once again as the Volunteers appear primed to return to the national spotlight.
The Vols' roster bears little resemblance to that of last season, when Tennessee turned in a season-ending ITA ranking of No. 55 in the nation. Only four players return from that squad, but they comprise the core of a team packed with potential.
" I'm very excited about this year and the mix of players that we have," Fancutt said. "We've got some great older players, and I'm very excited to see the new, really focused young players come into the team and see how it all melds. It's going to be a great year and I'm really looking forward to it.
Tennessee's top returnee, Simon Rea, is one of two seniors on this year's team. A well-known and respected competitor on the collegiate tennis landscape, Rea enters the spring with an ITA Southeast regional singles ranking of No. 10. He was the only Volunteer selected to compete in the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Singles Championships, and has twice garnered All-SEC honors (second-team doubles in 2002 and second-team singles in 2003). The UT coaching staff is well aware of the fact that it has a quality team leader in Rea, a staunch perfectionist and extremely focused player who expects to win each time he steps foot on a tennis court.
"Simon has been a great example of what you can achieve by making full use of the facilities and coaching that's available here at Tennessee to improve your game," Fancutt said. "We're expecting big things from Simon. He was one of the most dominant players in college tennis last year, and we're hoping for him to continue that this season and follow in the footsteps of many of the great ex-Tennessee players into his pro career afterwards. Simon's a great leader, and it has been a pleasure to have him on our team.
The Vol netters' other senior veteran is Clarksville native Wade Orr. Beneath the facade of a pensive on-court demeanor lurks an unmatched competitive intensity that Orr channels into his efforts during each match he plays.
Orr ended his junior campaign in fine fashion at last year's SEC Tournament in Oxford, Miss., recording career singles win No. 50 by toppling Auburn's Andy Colombo. With the 2004 season serving as his Rocky Top farewell tour, Orr looks for those winning ways to continue as his distinguished collegiate career comes to a close. However, with a resume that includes membership on three NCAA semifinalist teams, a regular-season SEC championship and an SEC Tournament title, his place in Volunteer history is already well secured.
"Wade is going to be one of the experienced leaders on this team," Fancutt said. "He's been to multiple NCAA final fours, an NCAA final and has been on SEC championship teams. We look forward to Wade being an example to the young incoming freshmen.
Both Rea and Orr know the importance that senior leadership plays in a team's success. As sophomores in 2002, their team was guided by four of the winningest seniors in UT history and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships. Following the departure of that legendary class, the Tennessee roster was devoid of any senior presence last season. The Vols' postseason fortunes in 2004 will undoubtedly hinge on the guidance and leadership that Rea and Orr supply.
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| Simon Rea |
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| Wade Orr |
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| Damien Spizzo |
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| Rawl Martin |
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| Mark Dietrich |
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| Johnny Thornton |
Veritable firepower will be supplied by the junior-class contingent on this year's team. Mark Dietrich and Damien Spizzo, a transfer from the University of Southern California, both come equipped with rocket-blast serves and scorching ground strokes. Dietrich entered the fall with a career-high ITA singles ranking of No. 39 in the nation. But after taking part in only two tournaments, the Memphis native's season took a tragic turn. As a pedestrian, he was struck by a vehicle Sept. 20, and underwent surgery shortly thereafter to repair a fractured right tibia. Just days after suffering the injury, Dietrich's rehabilitation efforts -- aided by the outstanding UT sports medicine staff -- began in earnest. Just a little more than two months had passed before he was back on the courts, hitting balls from a wheelchair. Dietrich, along with the Tennessee athletic department family, remains optimistic about his chances of returning and contributing to the Vol netters'success this spring.
" Mark is recovering from a pretty catastrophic injury to his leg," Fancutt said. "It will be an interesting season for Mark. We were expecting huge things from him. He was ranked No. 37 in the [ITA preseason singles rankings,] and I believe Mark was looking to really step up and have a dominating year that he could use as a platform to what's always been his dream of a pro career. Now with this setback, I just hope it helps him to refocus his goals and makes him understand the opportunity to play sports is a gift and it can be taken away from you at any time.
The opportunity to play collegiate tennis is one that Spizzo has been eagerly anticipating for the past year. He sat out the 2002-03 season under NCAA guidelines for transfer student-athletes. During his two seasons at USC, Spizzo was a difference-maker in the Trojan lineup. He spent the majority of his freshman campaign at the No. 3 singles position and also saw action at the No. 2 spot.
The Pac-10 prowess that he exhibited as a freshman earned him a national ITA singles ranking of No. 63 the following preseason. Spizzo was solid as a sophomore, and the Trojans played their way to the 2002 NCAA championship that spring (a tournament run that included a 4-3 win over Tennessee in the semifinals).
"Damien has a very strong all-around game," Fancutt said. "He is a great competitor, and he's going to be one of the best players on our team. So he will play a huge part in the success of this team this year.
Before relocating to Tennessee, Spizzo notched victories over many of the nation's top netters, including the 2003 NCAA singles champion, Amer Delic. Spizzo stunned six ranked players in his two seasons at Southern California.
Spizzo spent last season honing his game during practice at UT's Varsity Courts, and he is slated to hold down a spot at the top of the Vols' lineup this spring.
"Damien will improve throughout the year with the added match play," Fancutt said. "It has been difficult for him sitting out a year. He hasn't been able to play any matches, so he's just been practicing. But match play is a very important part of tennis, and I think once he starts playing in January, we'll see significant improvement from him as the year goes on.
The 2004 version of Rocky Top tennis will feature six underclassmen, led by returning sophomore Rawl Martin. The Memphis native brings a tremendous topspin baseline game to the courts and has exhibited significant improvement from his rookie campaign a year ago.
After posting 15 singles wins as a freshman, including the vital clinching point against SEC-rival Arkansas, he began his sophomore season by reeling off six consecutive victories through two events. According to the Tennessee coaches, Martin has benefited from a year's worth of training with the UT strength and conditioning staff. His increased level of fitness, coupled with a year of Division I experience (Martin played in all but two of Tennessee's dual matches in 2003), will allow him to bolster the Big Orange lineup this season.
"Rawl was pushed into a tough position last year, having to start as a freshman at the No. 6 singles position," Fancutt said. "He won a couple of great matches for us -- particularly the deciding match against Arkansas. Rawl has shown great improvement over the past year. He had a good fall in which he beat some players who had beaten him before. We look for that continued improvement with the good work ethic that Rawl has.
Vol newcomer Johnny Thornton is one of five freshmen on this year's squad, but he was the only rookie to enroll at UT and compete during the fall semester. A lifelong Volunteer fan, the Chattanooga native played in four tournaments during the individual season. His game improved considerably from event to event, and will continue to do so as he trains at UT's world-class athletic facilities.
"Johnny's been with us since the fall, and he has been working hard and building his level of experience," Fancutt said. Thornton isn't the only native of the Volunteer state to join the Big Orange program this season. Mid-term enrollee Ben Rogers of Kingsport also made the decision to make the move to Knoxville.
Rogers, the No. 2-ranked prospect in Tennessee, was a prep standout at Dobyns-Bennett High School. He led the Indians to TSSAA Class AAA district, regional and state championships in 2003. He also excelled on the national junior circuit, winning the singles crown at the 2003 Peach State Junior Classic.
For many years, Tennessee tennis has proudly possessed an international flavor. This spring's crop of newcomers continues that tradition, as one of New Zealand's top juniors and two South African standouts join the fray.
Kiril Tcherveniachki followed in the footsteps of his fellow countryman and former teammate Rea by committing to play for the Volunteers. Like Rea, Tcherveniachki hails from Auckland, New Zealand, and attended Auckland Grammar School. During a stellar junior career, Tcherveniachki attained an ITF Boys' 18s singles ranking of No. 46 in the world and reached the elite rounds of
numerous international tournaments.
"The thing I recognized about Kiril when I watched him play and recruited him is that he's a great competitor with a solid all-around game," Fancutt said. "He just fights his heart out on the court, and that's what we need to be successful here at Tennessee.
Freshmen Matthew Berry and Ockie Oosthuizen, meanwhile, become the first South Africans on Tennessee's tennis team since 1998. Both from Western Cape, they each earned reputations as skilled competitors and were highly sought-after recruits.
"Matthew and Ockie are both from South Africa," Fancutt said. "We've had some great South African players here at UT over the years, such as Chris Haggard, who is still out playing on the pro tour now. Byron Talbot was the winningest player ever at the University of Tennessee and went on to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon and play in the world doubles championships. I'm looking for these two young players to step into those footprints of some of the great
South Africans who have played here at Tennessee and have similar success.
A glimpse at the Vols' spring schedule is enough to get any UT fan's orange blood flowing. The grueling SEC schedule is highlighted by an April 10 home dual match vs. fierce rival Georgia at UT's Varsity Courts. In front of an army of Big Orange faithful, the Volunteers and Bulldogs will renew their storied rivalry, which has seen the two powerhouse programs split the past four meetings.
Non-conference opponents include Memphis, Virginia, William & Mary and Duke.
Tennessee travels west to Nashville for the SEC Tournament April 22-25. Vanderbilt plays host to this year's event, and the Vols are only two years removed from their 2002 tournament title in Knoxville.
The final location Tennessee hopes to visit in the spring is Tulsa, Okla. The University of Tulsa plays host to the NCAA Championships May 22-30, and if all goes according to plan on Rocky Top, the Volunteers will be right in the thick of things come late May.
"The tough schedule we play during the year, I think, is really important for preparing you to succeed in the SEC and NCAA tournaments at the end of the year," Fancutt said. "It's something that we've worked on, and here at Tennessee we're all about trying to win championships. We aim to do well at the end of the year, and we don't really worry so much about the rankings in the beginning of the year. [During the regular season] we're always trying to sort out our doubles team and get our best team organized and together so that we can make a run at trying to win championships at the end of the year -- and it has worked pretty well for us in the last six years. Playing a tough schedule is a very important part of being able to succeed in the end of the year when the tournaments come.
