JMU heads to W&M for CAAs

Dukes looking for first-round win

Chris Labzda / senior photographer Junior Martin Rohricht returns a shot against Washington and Lee University Tuesday at the Convocation Center Courts.

The men's tennis team earned the fifth seed in the upcoming Colonial Athletic Association Conference Tournament, where it will play the fourth-seeded University of North Carolina-Wilmington. The matchup is scheduled for the second day of the tournament Friday on the Adair Courts at the College of William & Mary.

The Dukes finished the regular season with a nine-game winning streak, winding up with a record of 11-8.

"One of our goals has always been to get into the four [vs.] five match," coach Steven Secord said. "There, we have the best chance to win in conference and get to the semifinals."

The two possibilities for the fifth seed were Hofstra University and JMU. Though these two teams didn't meet head-to-head this season, the polls swung in favor of the Dukes as the Pride were given the sixth seed in the tournament. Between the two teams, the Dukes beat out their common opponent, The University of Delaware, 4-0, whereas Hofstra was unable to beat the Blue Hens as decisively, winning 4-3.

Secord explained that the Dukes will enter the tournament with a nothing-to-lose mentality.

"Other teams know what we are capable of … and we don't have pressure [to win] from our [ranking]," he said.

Experience is something the Dukes have been blessed with this season. Seniors Colin Malcolm and Craig Anderson come to mind along with David Emery — a junior transfer from nationally ranked Virginia Tech.

It will be Emery's first tournament in the CAA, though his resume is chock-full of experience in terms of years and tournaments. His singles play at the No. 1 spot has been spectacular this season with a 10-7 record.

Many of the players are confident, but keep realistic expectations in mind, according to Anderson. Last year, JMU beat UNC-W in the regular season but lost to them in the CAA tournament. This year, could be a different story.

"All we can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Anderson said.

Sophomore John Snead added, "Our tough schedule earlier this season helped the team get better."

A big strength of the team has been its teamwork and passion for the game.

"Everyone on the team is competitive and here because they love the game," Anderson said.

"Everyone stands behind each other," Emery added.

Coach Secord has been shuffling pairings around and finding various combinations for the all-important doubles points that got JMU to the fifth seed. As a result, he has recognized his teams' winning-by-committee approach.

However, a win over UNC-W would allow the Dukes to consider this season a success.

"The first round is our championship game," Malcolm said "We have a good shot of winning, and we want to win."