How did the team preform last year?
The team was incredibly strong, led by seven seniors. We ended the season 9-3 and placed 3rd in the conference. For the first time in a very long time we beat McDonogh, which is a powerhouse in tennis. We also beat eight opponents 5-0 which is unbelievable.
Having had seven seniors graduate last year, are there any key players returning this season who have stepped up?
We have three returning varsity players: Reid Burch ‘14, Grant Palmer ‘14 and Brendan Galloway ‘13. They are in great shape and will be our first three singles players so far. We have a freshman on the team this year, Ray McDermott ‘16, who is very promising. We also have a group of guys that came up from the JV team that are playing very well: Grant Edrington ‘13, Grant Kunkel ‘13, Chris Paszkiewicz ‘14, and Max Hernandez ‘13.
How do scrimmages help to prepare the team for the season?
Scrimmages help a great, great deal. When we have players who have never played on varsity, they get out there live against another team and the experience is invaluable. The players get nervous, so they have to break through the nerves by gaining that experience. We started out with a scrimmage against Gonzaga College High, which is a very talented team. When we play a good team like that, it challenges our players to be on top of their game.
Is there a specific match you’re looking forward to most?
We always look forward to the matches against our two rivals, McDonogh and Gilman. Also, Mount St. Joseph, the defending champion, has three nationally ranked players. I think they will be the toughest challenge for us. All of the teams pose a good challenge. This is the most exciting league in the state with some very well-played tennis.
How do the players prepare in the offseason?
The guys play year-round tennis and partake in tournaments and hitting groups. Some use professional instruction in the offseason as well. They put a great deal of work and practice into it in order to play at this level.
Is there anything unique about Loyola’s tennis team that sets you apart from other teams?
Well, we always stress that we want to be the team with the best sportsmanship in the league in order to represent our school’s mission. Tennis can get very heated and problematic because we call our own lines. Because of this, we make sure we are the best sports and call our lines fairly. We also put a huge emphasis on the fact that we are a team. We all root for each other and help one another out at practice. The players get a real sense of belonging and have fun playing for their school.