University of Minnesota Athletics
Win Coffee With Coach Young
4/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
What are your thoughts on how the season has gone for you up to this point?
"I think that we have done well, but we need to get that one big win. We haven't really gotten over the hump. We have played some very good teams very tough and had chances, but we haven't gotten everyone to click on all cylinders on the same day which we will need to have to knock off these top twenty teams. We're really close, but we just haven't done it yet. We just need to show some patience and keep doing the things that many of us are doing."
Have there been any surprises for you so far this spring?
"One pleasant surprise is that our doubles has been adequate. We have shown that we can win the doubles point against the top teams and that is a little bit of a surprise, because our doubles in the fall was a concern. Last spring our doubles was not adequate and we lost one of our best doubles players. We really picked up the slack and the guys have really improved and that is a big point to get that double point, because if we lose it that forces us to win four out of the six singles."
What do you attribute the improved doubles play to?
"I think the guys have bought into what we preach about high intensity and having a lot of energy supporting on another from the get-go of the match. It's an eight game pro set which means that every point is critical. In singles every point is critical, but you can get away with a lapse. In doubles if you have a couple bad games that can be the difference in the match."
How much has Rok Bonin added to your lineup as a mid-season freshman?
"He's been great and shown that he can win for us in the middle of the lineup, even against the top teams. He's done a really good job coming in. It isn't easy to come in as a freshman mid-year. He's done a great job in both singles and doubles. He has been a great addition."
What are your goals for the upcoming Big Ten season?
"We want to get into the top five of the conference, so that we don't need to have a play-in match in the Big Ten Tournament. We are going into this outdoor Big Ten season and it's filled with great teams. We really want to use that to help get ourselves in position to make the NCAA tournament, and to get a good draw."
In what ways will the challenging schedule you've played so far help when the
Big Ten season starts?
"I think it will help, because we have played a lot of tough matches. We are 5-5 and our worst loss, or those five loses, is to a team who is ranked No. 25 in the country right now. That match we let slip through our fingers, and we almost had that match in the bag. That's really going to help us because that is what we are used to playing against, and it really won't be that much tougher with the Big Ten teams. That's right where we need to be."
Your team has been great in the classroom and the community. Is that something you emphasize in the recruiting process or stress once the players get to campus?
"More so when they get to campus that we need to give back and be visible in the community. It's also something the guys like to do, so that has been good for us."
Previous Coffee with the Coach winners
- Football Coach Tim Brewster and Jim Erickson
- Volleyball Coach Mike Hebert and Susan Goldstein
- Women's Hockey Coach Brad Frost and Theresa Stead
- Women's Basketball Coach Pam Borton and Janet Williams
- Women's Gymnastics Coaches Jim & Meg Stephenson and Hanna and April Beachem
- Women's Cross Country Coach Gary Wilson and David Harvey
- Baseball Coach John Anderson and Glenn and Garrett McConnach
- Volleyball Coach Mike Hebert and Fran Launstein
- Women's Basketball Coach Pam Borton and Shar Anderson
- Men's Hockey Coach Don Lucia and Ken Larson
- Wrestling Coach J Robinson and Kevin and Rocky Wilson
- Women's Hockey Coach Brad Frost and Brad Speakman
Players Mentioned
