Campus Match Play

The next two weeks for me are going to be spent fine tuning my game for campus match play. Campus match play was designed to expose college-bound juniors to college tennis. The format is simple; four or five hours of round-robin style play with the members of the college team. A lot of colleges participate as a way of giving their team a chance for competition during the NCAA off-season within the rules of permitted play for student-athletes. The cost is usually very low and although the day was designed for juniors, anyone can participate.

More information can be found at the following link:

www.itatennis.com/events/campus_match_play.htm

So, I am planning to hit the colleges in the Midwest. First, stop, Michigan State University.

My primary goal is to fix the problem I have with slow starts. I've mentioned in earlier posts how I tend to fall behind in a set early. I've had a lot of suggestions to fix this, including focusing more during the warm-up and visualization techniques.

These campus match play is a no-stress, not-for-points competition. Without the pressure of having something to gain by winning, I hope I can concentrate on competing every round.

On a more mundane note, I've been playing a ton of doubles and am feeling a little more confident in my serve and volley game. I'm still attending the Saturday morning clinic at Franklin, which is a ton of fun. Its so hard, but I am hanging in there and no longer feeling like I am the "weakest" one in the group or that I can't hold my own. Yesterday was such a warm November day. A friend and I actually spent about five hours outside playing tennis, breaking only for a nap and a meal.

This Friday, members of my mixed doubles team, which made it to sectionals are driving down to Ohio to play the Nationals-bound team, whom we lost to in the final match, 1 court to 2. Its an evening of tennis and fun, giving them some competition before they leave for Las Vegas and allowing them to show off their new indoor tennis facility in Perrysburgh, OH.

I am looking forward to that and will let everyone know how it went.

Stay tuned,

KS.