Their bodies move swiftly up and down the tennis court while sweat drips down their tiring faces on a warm May day. It is a new feeling for members of the men’s tennis team whose season is usually done at the end of the Sun Belt Conference tournament, but not this season. This season is different because the Pioneers are heading to the NCAA tournament this weekend for the first time in program history.
“All four years I always wanted to make it as a team. This year we were lucky enough to get in, that was the big goal for this season,” said senior Adam Holmstrom.
DU finished second at the SBC tournament and just missed out on an automatic NCAA berth, but their challenging schedule and No. 44 ranking helped propel Denver to post-season action.
“I think we are just excited to get in. At this point I don’t think it matters who we play, we are just excited to play and excited to play one more match. I told the guys that it is a privilege to practice in May,” said head coach Danny Westerman.
It is a privilege that the team is not taking lightly and is getting to prove to No. 20 Oklahoma State this weekend that the Pioneers are coming to Tulsa, Okla. for more reasons than just to put the NCAA appearance on their resume. They are coming to compete hard.
“I don’t think we have to play our best tennis; we have to play our most competitive tennis,” said Westerman about what it is going to take for DU to win.
Denver will play the Cowboys at the Tulsa regional this Saturday at 12 p.m. mountain time.
The Pioneers wouldn’t be experiencing any sweat or pain right now if it wasn’t for their solid team effort led by Holmstrom that helped the team compile an 18-6 record.
Holmstrom is the only athlete on the team with NCAA tournament experience and is ready to lead the Pioneers to a first round victory.
“We got in and now we have to believe in ourselves. We have a great chance to make some damage, hopefully we can get four points,” said Holmstrom about the points necessary to win a match.
The Eskilstuna, Sweden native made his first NCAA tournament appearance during his freshman campaign when he went 23-6 overall and lost to VCU’s Arnaud Lecloerec in the first round while being ranked No. 91.
Holmstrom made his second and most recent appearance last season as a junior when he entered the NCAA tournament with a school record 32-4 singles play record. Holmstrom, ranked No. 17 at the time, was defeated by No. 76 Martin Sayer of Radford in the first round again.
The NCAA singles and doubles play championships occur right after the team championships, and for the first time Holmstrom will not have to sit and wait to play. Holmstrom will be able to keep his game and legs warm in the team championships even it only means one match.
“Honestly I think it will help him a lot. If we did not make it as a team it would be three weeks between competition. I really think that that hurt him last year, not that that is an excuse,” said Westerman.
This year will also be different for No. 36 Holmstrom as he will not only compete in singles play, but for the first time in NCAA doubles, he will play with partner Niklas Persson.
Persson and Holmstrom, currently ranked No. 12 in doubles, are unbeaten at 15-0 this season and are the first doubles team to compete in the national doubles tournament in school history.
Holmstrom has a full plate in the next few weeks and is ready to end his college career on a winning note and not another first round exit.
“I think he is more motivated to do better as a whole. I think he wants to do well, and the fact that he hasn’t gotten out of the first round I think he is looking forward to another shot,” said Westerman.
This weekend will be an experience for everyone on the Pioneers roster, an experience that they hope will be more than just a one-match trip to Tulsa, Okla.
