The University of Alabama men’s tennis team will leave Tuscaloosa this Saturday for the first time this spring season. The Crimson Tide will take on Wake Forest University, the University of New Mexico and Pennsylvania State University in Winston Salem, N.C., in the Wake Forest Spring Invitational.

The Tide is coming off of two wins at home last weekend against Alabama State and Jackson State. First-year Crimson Tide head coach George Husack said the tournament this weekend will be competitive and physically and mentally challenging for the team, as they will be playing three matches in two days, a format the Tide does not encounter often.

The team is focused on making improvements this weekend that will help them play in settings such as this. Husak said the players become mentally and physically stronger each time they play a match, and he has seen progress in the team’s willingness to work throughout his first year at the Capstone, which he believes will help the team play their best in tournaments like the one this weekend.

“We’ve demanded a bigger commitment than what they’ve had before, so I think they’re eating it up,” he said.

Senior Jarryd Botha said the introduction of Husak into the program has forced the team to become more “locked-in” to practice. The team is more consistent and composed on the court under the new head coach. With these improvements, Botha said wins are not as important as how the team shows itself on the court this weekend.

“I’m expecting us to go out there and have a good fight with these teams,” Botha said. “Obviously, come off with as many wins as we possibly can but really keep a solid composure and do the best we can.”

Husak is focused on his players being more assertive on the court rather than setting large expectations for every match or the season.

“We want to be more aggressive, especially when we play indoors,” the head coach said. “As long as we compete hard and do our best, great things will happen.”