The UW-Whitewater men’s tennis team traveled to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, last week to kick off the outdoor tennis season. The Warhawks played three matches, winning against Augustana College and Depauw University while losing to Carleton College. However, this trip goes deeper than just playing matches by the beach. The Warhawks tennis team head coach Byron Balkin took some time to chat with the Royal Purple about how this trip brings the team together, creates deeper connections with teammates and helps the Warhawks prepare for the outdoor season and conference play.
Q: What makes this trip an important part of the season for you and your team?
A: Our team has been playing indoors all winter, so it’s the start of outdoor competition. It’s going to get us ready for our conference play and playing outside. It’s also a great experience for our players and teams to get closer with one another. There is a lot of team camaraderie and bonding time which we are really looking forward to.
Q: How does stepping away from campus and competing somewhere new help the team grow on and off the court?
A: We’re playing in a different environment than we’re used to, mostly because it’s outside. Conditions are going to be different, it’s a little more humid down there. On the court we try to treat every match the same in a lot of ways. There are some things that’ll be the same from what we’ve been doing, but since it is outside, it’s the different elements that we’re going to have to get used to. Off the court, the team bonding is just fantastic down there. On our off days, the team gets to be at the beach and the pool. We also all rent bikes down there and everything is accessible for the players.
Q: Taking a look into the games themselves, what areas of the team’s game are you looking to see improvement?
A: I’d like to see us continue to make strides in our doubles. Both teams have really good opportunities to improve the transition game from serving to being up there at the net and having some presence. I’d also like to see us take on the transition of indoors to outdoors easily. With the elements of outdoor tennis, you have the wind and the sun, so I want to see us take advantage of that during our play.
Q: What does a successful trip down to South Carolina look like?
A: Getting a lot of time on the tennis court, getting our players more opportunities to compete against different schools and general improvement. I’m looking forward to getting those opportunities for our players and being able to expand their tennis IQ and knowledge of the game.
Q: How do you rely on your leaders to step up during this time?
A: Since our captains are voted on by their teammates, right from the get go there is a lot of trust in them. We tend to see them as an extension of the coaching staff. We have been working with our captains to get them trained up on how to be better leaders and how to take proactive steps to do things like have off court meetings. During matches we really are able to see them utilizing their leadership skills. While we’re away from spring break and on this trip, they’re given a lot of responsibilities, and they always follow them well.
Coach Balkin and the men’s tennis team hope to carry the experience gained from their spring trip into the rest of the season as they prepare to start their outdoor season and conference play. The Warhawks’ next match is in St. Peter, Minnesota, on April 4th against Gustavus Adolphus College.
