The Alabama men’s tennis team will travel to Columbia, S.C., tomorrow to take on the No. 40 South Carolina Gamecocks. Alabama will resume play Sunday when it travels to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the No. 11 Florida Gators.
The Tide (6-10, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) is coming off a 4-1 loss to No. 9 Kentucky Sunday. The team uncharacteristically fell behind initially, losing the doubles point for the first time in four matches. Head coach Billy Pate said it is important to continue winning the doubles point this weekend so they can avoid having to dig themselves out of an early hole.
“Losing that doubles point really hurt us because we have been winning doubles points a lot, and that put us in a hole,” Pate said. “We need to continue our success in doubles. It’s going to be essential because it gets you that 1-0 lead, and I would like to see us consolidating the leads we earn, manage that momentum and build off it.”
It will be important for the Tide to rebound this weekend if it wants to have a shot at making the NCAAs. Pate said it’s crucial to come out strong against South Carolina so the team can carry some momentum into the Florida match Sunday.
“It starts Friday with South Carolina, and I don’t want to say it’s a must-win, but it’s a real important win if we are still going to achieve our goal of making the NCAA [tournament] and marching on through that,” Pate said. “And we need the confidence coming out of that match, win or lose, to play Florida. If we are successful Friday, it will certainly help our chances on Sunday.”
With the team struggling in SEC play, senior Ricky Doverspike has been a bright spot for the team, winning three of the last four matches in singles and doubles, where he is partnered with junior Jarryd Botha. Doverspike said the game experience and practice with Botha will continue to help them progress as a team.
“We have been getting better every match, and we are definitely just getting more comfortable playing with each other,” Doverspike said. “We are just going to keep getting better as we continue playing throughout the season.”
Doverspike said it will be important to get a win this weekend in order for the team to gain confidence moving forward.
“We have to get a win,” Doverspike said. “I would love a win against South Carolina. We have never lost to them since I’ve been here, and I would love to go 4-0 against them in my career as an Alabama tennis player. But we need to pick up a win this weekend and use that as confidence to build us into next week.”
