Men's tennis focuses on mental, physical progress

The men's tennis team expects to progress mentally and physically and hopes to finish the season as a top contender in the Atlantic-10 conference tournament.

The team had a successful fall season with its new head coach, Ben Johnson, and is ready to improve.

A change in the head coaching position can pose certain difficulties to a team: following new practice regimes and acclimating to different techniques and expectations. But players A.J. Nelson and Pablo Arana confirmed that Johnson's coaching abilities have left little time to struggle with the change.

Johnson came into Richmond's tennis program saying that the previous head coach, Billy Boykin, had, in a way, "let the program fall apart." With a tight practice schedule and the goal to improve each player in order to strengthen the whole team, Johnson believes he has the team on its way to seeing top results in the A-10s.

Arana, a junior from Mexico City, said: "I really like Ben. His practices are highly structured and he works individually with everyone. He knows his game. As the coach, he is one of the most important pillars of our team."

Nelson, a senior from Akron, Ohio, said Johnson used strict structure, unlike anything Nelson had seen during his time at Richmond.

Nelson considered Boykin "more relaxed" than Johnson.

"Johnson is a motivator," Nelson said. "He is more 'in your face' trying to get us motivated. If he stays for a while, we are going to do great."

Johnson said that he had his team on a weekly 20-hour schedule that spanned two semesters and comprised five morning practices, three night practices and meetings with the team's strength coach.

The men are anticipating several tournaments during the spring season, including a home tournament against Virginia Commonwealth University on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30. Johnson considers Viginia Commonwealth to be Richmond's top opponent, and Nelson and Arana hope that Spider fans show up to support the team.

Arana and Nelson were optimistic and agreed that the coming home tournament was to Richmond's advantage.

"Home tournaments are better," Arana said. "You know the courts and all outside elements are in your favor. Plus, you have school support."

Johnson, Nelson and Arana agreed that all of their hard work was done in the hopes of finishing on top at the end of the season. The Spiders finished eighth in last year's A-10 tournament.

"Everything leads up to the A-10s," Johnson said.

When asked whether he thought winning the tournament was a possibility, Nelson replied: "Anything is possible in tennis. One day you play terribly, the next day you have the best match of your life."

Johnson said, "We have competed well and done a lot of developmental work. The sophomores had a sound fall season, we have good senior leadership and everybody has taken a major step forward."

The team will face 19 more tournaments before the A-10s arrive.

Contact reporter Markie Martin at markie.martin@richmond.edu