After a disappointing loss to the Miami Hurricanes Saturday, the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s tennis team will look to bounce back this weekend with matches against Vanderbilt and No. 7 Kentucky.
Head coach Billy Pate said the loss to Miami provided an opportunity for his team to learn from their mistakes.
“I think you learn from those experiences,” Pate said. “I think if we get back in that scenario, say Friday… then we’ll respond a little differently.”
The Tide (6-8, 1-4 SEC) has lost four of its last five matches and will look to earn its second Southeastern Conference win of the season. The Tide will play Vanderbilt on Friday in Nashville, Tenn., before returning home Sunday to take on the Wildcats.
“Vanderbilt’s going to be a tough match,” said senior Ricky Doverspike. “It’s pretty much do or die. I feel like everyone’s on edge right now. We need to get a good win for our confidence.”
Doverspike said to get the win, however, his team would need to compete as a unit.
“We all need to just play well,” Doverspike said, “and focus for a good three hours on one match.”
Pate said the match against Kentucky would also be a challenge for his team.
“They’ve got a really good team this year,” Pate said. “They’ve probably got the best team they’ve had in many, many years.”
Still, Doverspike has been successful against both Vanderbilt and Kentucky in the past. Last year, Doverspike and doubles partner junior Jarryd Botha won their matches against both teams, though the Tide ultimately lost both matches.
“Last year, I feel like we should have won against Vandy,” Doverspike said. “We let it slip out of our hands, and we’re going to use that as motivation to win.”
“I think that loss last year really hurt us,” Pate said. “I think [it was] one that kept us out of the NCAA, to be honest. If we’d won that, I think we were in.”
Doverspike said one of the keys to victory would be competing well in doubles matches. He said he and Botha have both been working to improve in that area.
“The most important thing is knowing where each other is at all times,” Doverspike said. That communication is the most basic thing.”
Doverspike said he believes his team is more mature than last year, however. He also said he is confident about the weekend’s matchups.
“Everyone on our team’s grown,” Doverspike said. “We’re one year older, we’re more composed now than we were last year. I feel like, with the matchups that we have, we can definitely take down Vandy. We’re going to get a team win this weekend. I can feel it.”
