Normally, no team likes to enter the NCAA tournament coming off a loss, especially if that loss happened in the SEC tournament in heartbreaking fashion.
The Tennessee Volunteer men’s tennis players currently find themselves in that exact situation, and for some reason they don’t seem too upset.
In fact, many tennis players believe the team is playing well right now and also feel confident that the team is heading towards the right direction for the NCAA tournament.
“I mean it was definitely a tough loss, no doubt about that,” senior Colton Norton said. “But honestly as tough as it was, I think there are positives to take out of it. And even though we did lose that match, I actually think everyone is playing really well right now and everyone has kinda found there niche so to speak.
“From an outsider looking in seeing that result, it may not look that way. But I really do think we are heading in the right direction, and I think we just need to work hard these next few weeks and try our best to prepare for the NCAAs.”
While the team believes they have an opportunity to last long in the NCAA tournament, their weekend in Nashville at the SEC tournament was quite short, as the Ole Miss Rebels defeated them in the first round, 4-2.
It marked the second time this season that the Rebels got the best of the Vols, with the Rebels winning the first game in Knoxville, 4-1.
But while the Rebels dominated the match in Knoxville, UT competed harder and fought longer in the second match.
“We played Ole Miss earlier this year and it was a really bad loss,” junior Mikelis Libietis said. “We didn’t play well. This time we played a lot better, but we came up short. The last three weeks, we took steps forward.
“The team was playing a lot closer, and we had some good matches. We just need to look forward.”
The team will have to continue to take steps forward the next two weeks as they prepare for the NCAA tournament May 9th.
One advantage the team has is that playing in a league as competitive as the southeastern conference is more than adequate preparation for the NCAAs.
Tennessee’s experience in close matches can be a big confidence boost for the Vols heading into the tournament.
“Just playing several close matches throughout the year definitely has its benefits,” Libietis said. “There is nothing like when you see the matches go down to 4-3, or 4-2. I mean it is definitely an advantage for teams who have had to do that all throughout the year in my opinion.
“The more you are put in that situation, I think the more you are ready for it the next time it comes along. Playing in the SEC definitely prepares you for that situation.”
