Men’s Tennis Looking to Develop Young Talent

2008 Men’s Tennis Season Preview

The two words which immediately jump out at an observer of the Westmont men’s tennis team are - young and large.  Seven of the 12 team members are freshman and two are sophomores.  That leaves only three upper classmen, one junior and two seniors.  A closer look, however, reveals not just youth and numbers, but potential and talent. 

"This is a very new team with only three returning starters," said head coach Chris Elwood. "We are a developing team and it will be interesting to see if starting freshmen Kent Stormans and Aaron Cooke, and the freshmen vying for a starting position like Martin Park and Chris Hill, can elevate their game to a mature level to compete in the conference.  That is what we need to have happen.  From a coaching perspective, it is our goal to develop the freshmen and help them get on top of the game."

As the coaching staff of Elwood and assistant coach Dave Rubio pursue that goal, they will look to the returning players for assistance.

"I am looking to the veterans for leadership - something which they really displayed in the fall," said Elwood. "The returnees are intense and great players.  If they can lead the team it will really make a difference."

"As a team, we want to practice with discipline, act with purpose, and play with passion," said senior team captain Kyle Godfrey. "If we commit ourselves to excellence in the areas we can control, our success will take care of itself."

PLAYERS

The only four-year player on the team, Godfrey will play at number one singles.  Over the past three years, Godfrey has compiled a record of 26-39 playing at number two, three and four.  His doubles record at numbers one and two is 28-25.

"Kyle has been training for three years to be at this point where he would be playing number one," said Elwood. "The dominate side of his game has to do with power. He has a great serve-forehand combination.  He has worked very hard the past eight months on his backhand.  Having the backhand as a steady piece in his arsenal will open up more shots for him on the forehand side.  The key for him is to maintain his level of excellent play.  In previous years, Kyle could be very streaky - playing unbelievable tennis and then dropping his level.  But if he can maintain his excellent level of play he is going to hold his own at number one."

Freshman Aaron Cooke is slated for the number two singles position.  Cooke, who considers Boston, Massachusetts his home town, played his high school years at Bakersfield Christian High School in California’s central valley.

"Aaron is a great addition to our program," said Elwood. "He has a mature game in the sense that he doesn’t make a lot of unforced errors.  Aaron is a steady baseliner and has a good serve. We are working hard on developing his transition game.  He’s a fine player and we are glad to have him here."

Competing for number three and four spots are junior Arthur Kalayjian and freshman Kent Stormans of Olympia, Washington. 

Kalayjian posted a 7-5 singles record in his sophomore year while playing at number four, five and six.  He also boasts a 9-6 doubles record last season playing at number two and three.

"Arthur is a very talented player and an amazing athlete," said Elwood. "He’s very fast and covers the court well which is a great asset.  He blends a nice full game - he can grind out from the baseline but also has a good transition game where he can come in and volley.  The key for him is to maintain a high level throughout his matches.  He can be somewhat streaky but if we can get him to maintain the level he is capable of he is going to have a very good year."

"Kent had a very good fall," reported Elwood. "He has developed quickly.  Kent has a very good forehand which is the centerpiece of his game along with just good steady play.  His serve is solid.  We are trying to get him to full maturity - having a sense of developing points well, creating openings, playing more percentage tennis until he has the right ball to do something with it."

Four Warriors will compete for the number five and six positions - senior Ryan Shultz, sophomore Ryley Schultz, freshman Martin Park who attended Sage Hill High School in Newport and freshman Chris Hill of Denver, Colorado.

"Martin has been working very hard," said Elwood. "He’s a baseliner that runs the court very well and keeps a lot of balls in play.  As a freshman, he is very disciplined in that way.  What we need Marty to do is to develop a little more power in his game - on his serve and on his ground strokes - and get more comfortable at the net."

A transfer from Bakersfield Community College for his junior year, Shultz posted a 6-5 singles record playing and number five and six.  His doubles record was 3-9 at numbers one and two.

"Ryan is a veteran but is banged up," said Elwood. "His biggest challenge is that he is injury prone.  If we can keep him healthy, he’s going to have a very good year because he is playing very good tennis when he is here.  Ryan has a lot of versatility to his game.  He can stay back and grind and can also play a good transition - serve, volley and get to the net.  We are looking forward to a good year for him in doubles."

Schultz saw limited time in his freshman year, posting a singles record of 1-3 and a doubles record of 3-3.

"Ryley has been working hard on his game," reported Elwood. "He is a very strong volleyer.  This year he brings an improved serve, improved return of serve and improved backhand.  With an improved serve, he’s going to have more chances to get to the net in his singles game.  He is a very intelligent doubles player and will likely start in doubles. He is probably the most pure doubles player on the team in terms of his understanding of the game.  If we can get him to be as confident in singles as he is in doubles, he could have a good year."

"Chris has been getting in better shape and is starting to move the court really well," said Elwood. "A strong baseliner, his main assets are steady deep ground strokes that hurt people back and keep them on the defensive.  He has a great perspective on the game.  He’s enthusiastic about playing which is evident in why he is starting to improve this spring in particular.  Our goals for him would include better net play, a bigger first serve and to get in superior shape."

Also returning to the team for the Warriors is junior Cody King who has been used in a limited role.  King was 3-0 in singles last season and 2-0 in doubles.

"Cody brings maturity to the game," said Elwood. "He is much more consistent this year and is developing points better.  We are looking for him to develop weapons."

Three more newcomers round out the team - Matt Minkus of Hermosa Beach, Nick Tomic of Corona and Trent Fowler of Wheaton, Illinois.

"Matt struggled through the fall with a foot injury but he is starting to come through," said Elwood. "He posted a couple of good wins in his challenge matches.  He still has a ways to go in terms of getting in shape.  He’s a steady player but needs to develop weapons.

"Nick brings a nice serve to the game and intensity," continued Elwood.  "We are trying to get him to be more consistent.  He has a nice two-hand backhand.  I can see him developing in the near future.  Trent brings a great heart to the court and works hard.  He is still honing his skills but is a good athlete.  He hasn’t had much tournament background so he is playing catch up a little bit."

SCHEDULE

In addition to eight Golden State Athletic Conference matches, The Warriors have scheduled ten non-conference dual matches including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California Lutheran, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Cal Poly Pomona on the road.  Home non-conference opponents include Roger Williams (R.I.), Redlands and Chapman.

GSAC play begins on February 11 when the Warriors travel to Costa Mesa to take on Vanguard.  Westmont will also have to travel to California Baptist, Hope International and Fresno Pacific.  Westmont will host Azusa Pacific, Biola, Concordia and Point Loma Nazarene at the Abbott Tennis courts this year.  As always, the GSAC will provide top-notch competition.  In the final 2007 rankings, five GSAC teams were ranked and four were in the top 10.

"Azusa Pacific has been in the last five national finals," said Elwood. "Fresno Pacific is just as good.  Vanguard is consistently in the quarterfinals.  Point Loma was the ninth seed last year and had three match points against the eight seed.  Concordia is loaded with foreign talent and may be number three in our conference.  Cal Baptist and Hope International are also strong."

The Warriors hope to return to postseason play this coming May.  The NAIA Region II Tournament will be held May 2-3 at Fresno Pacific and the NAIA National Tournament is scheduled for May 12-16 in Mobile, Alabama.  Westmont can earn a berth in the national championship by either winning the regional tournament or by receiving an at-large bid which is based on the final NAIA national ranking.