LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego men's tennis team has been busy practicing throughout the fall quarter in compliance with university, local, and state COVID-19 regulations. Now, with the end of the calendar year and final exams approaching, the team has paused its activities until next month.
 
Head Coach Timmer Willing shared his thoughts on the Tritons' fall practices.
 
Q: What have been the main focuses of your practices? 

Willing: We have spent much time playing matches against each other. Evaluating the patterns of play during matches to help define our players strengths and weaknesses. Trying to give them a game plan that works for them.

Q: What area have you seen the most growth in for the team during the fall? 
 
Willing: The key word would be adaptability. They are understanding that though not convenient at times, we are making progress in small steps with many obstacles. We just cannot let our mindset be one of those obstacles. The guys have responded with a realistic approach. Not positive or negative, just the willingness to solve a problem on a daily basis.

Q: How has the team dynamic been?
 
Willing: The men have done a pretty good job and maintained a good chemistry. Partly because they are experienced from last year and there are only a couple new guys who are already bought in to our approach of self-reliance. Along with a local player who was already aware of our team dynamics as he has been following our program for years.

Q: What has stood out to you most about this year's newcomers?
 
Willing: All three have something big to add to our team, whether it is a fitness component, tennis and ball striking ability, or eagerness to improve and develop. All have had something positive to offer our team to improve our competitiveness. 
 
Q: Have there been any surprises or standouts during the fall practices?
 
Willing: Knowing the guys from last year and understanding the incoming class, I really haven't been surprised as we were very thorough in evaluating. It makes it easy when you recruit character and develop the ability when you get them here. I guess the one factor would be how difficult it is for our senior class returning. They started to feel that outside goals are upon them immediately since many are starting life during our season. Instead waiting to graduate and start looking for career and internship opportunities. They had to adjust their mindset because the situation has made them deal with some unexpected trials in concluding their college life during a final year more so than in the past. 

Q: What are you most looking forward to in the coming months?
 
Willing: I think the guys are looking forward to having a competitive season. They know it is our first year in the Big West. Our team is going to get a large number of opportunities to challenge themselves with our schedule. It will not be easy but what is the fun in that when it is easy? We need to be prepared to give it everything as we will have a new opportunity the next day to improve. There's no time to get too happy after a win and definitely no time to be sad and sulk after a loss. Get up and get back to the opportunity you have again right away, likely even the next day. 
 
I look forward to how difficult our schedule will be and see how we respond with a win or loss. This is absolutely a developmental year and nothing but great opportunity every match. I feel we will surprise some teams and we haven't even gotten started in our transition to DI. This plan has been in process for years now and we finally get to see it in its initial stages. Even before this season, we have had setbacks that interrupt our plan before striking a tennis ball. I look forward to seeing where this goes over the next four years. 
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.