After the loss against FSU last weekend that left the Crimson Tide 2-3 overall, the team had to focus on execution in order to prosper once again.
Now back on the road, Alabama will face Oklahoma State Saturday and Oklahoma Sunday. It will be the first time this season the men’s tennis team will be playing away. Its two other away matches were played on neutral courts.
“I think the biggest thing is we’re going to be on the road again,” coach George Husack said. “Clearly I think we feel more comfortable here, but I see us performing at a better level than we did [last weekend].”
This week in practice, he said he expects to see the boys having fun and being energetic as they normally are and that same level of energy needs to transfer into their actual matches as well.
The players said they plan to work hard the week before heading to Oklahoma and fix minor things. The players have to work hard not only on the court but also in the weight room and training room in order to take care of their bodies, Husack said.
“Just maintaining a high level of intensity during practice like we have in the matches [is important],” junior Becker O’Shaughnessey said. “And just focus on small things, like returns and holding serves. We shouldn’t be losing serve two, three times a set – that’s what’ll cost us.”
Freshman Danny Kerznerman said the players will look over the notes Husack took throughout their matches last Saturday and each player will work on individual aspects along with execution as a whole.
“Keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “Every day, just keep trying to get better.”
The team will play Oklahoma State on Saturday at noon in Stillwater and Oklahoma on Sunday at noon in Norman.
