NU men's tennis ready to kick off season

By Tim Kyrkostas
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

This time of year there are four things you can count on: March Madness, Mother Nature getting in that last really big nor'easter, Norwich bulldozing the ice out of Kreitzburg arena, and the tennis team dusting off their rackets, anticipating the coming season.

"I am so excited about this upcoming season. I have no clue what to expect out of the team, but I am certain that no other team we'll face will have the kind of athletes that we have," said Head Tennis Coach Bob Friske.

Friske's bragging may stem from the fact that five out of the eight members of this year's team are dual athletes. Senior Ziga Ivanic, Junior Marshall Lee, and Sophomore Aaron Lee all played key roles on this year's men's ice hockey team, while Senior Phil Fousek and Sophomore Enrique Fernandez were key contributors on this year's men's soccer team.

"All of these guys have been showing me that their talents don't just lie in their other sport. Every day at practice I find myself really impressed by their work ethic and their business-like attitudes which they carry over from their other teams," said Friske.

"Right now I am extremely rusty, but every day I can see my timing and overall game improving. I really haven't played competitive team tennis since high school, but I felt that playing would be a great way to stay in shape, and I love the game and the competition," said Junior Marshall Lee, 23, a communications major from Calgary, Alberta.

Marshall isn't the only one who's rusty.

"Every member of this team is a little rusty. With a lot of guys involved in other sports seasons we really haven't had many full squad practices to see the full depth of our team and just where are talent lies," added Friske.

"I am really excited at the talent of all the guys we got here. At first, I really didn't know what to expect, but after the first time we hit balls together, I saw that they all could play, and it should be interesting just how we stack up," said Sr. Phil Fousek, 23, a physical education major from Montpelier, Vt., who is one of three returning players from last year's team.

Last year's standout and team captain Ziga Ivanic returns for his senior season.

"I am really excited for the upcoming season, with all the new faces; it should be lots of fun." Ivanic is the team's number one singles player. He also plays doubles.

"Ziga is what Norwich athletics is all about. A two-sport athlete who maintains a perfect 4.0 grade point average, he's so well rounded, that it's such an honor to coach him," said Friske.

"Coming right off hockey season isn't that tough in terms of maintaining my studies. I am so used to practicing and competing while staying atop of my studies," said Senior Ziga Ivanic, 24, an engineering major from Slovenia.

Unlike the other spring sports teams who may be affected by the inclement weather, the tennis team practices and plays all their home matches inside the friendly confines of Shapiro Field House. The first match is slated for this Saturday, March 23, at noon, versus GNAC rival Albertus Magnus.

"With a team loaded with new players, only time will tell just how well we'll do once the season starts," said Friske.

Back to Guidon index