Working on an 'overconfidence problem'

The tension is evident on the men's tennis team.

Coming into its matchup tomorrow against Saint Joseph's (0-1), two lines of thought permeate the squad.

Coach Nik DeVore has been warning his players against underestimating opponents, a mental flaw that hurt the Quakers early on in their meet against Drexel, where they eventually earned their first and only win of the season.

Today, they'll be up against a Hawks team that they've shellacked 7-0 in each of the past three seasons.

"When your guys have a history of doing well against a program, you're going to have an overconfidence problem," DeVore said.

"So we have to combat that energy."

The players, on the other hand, are exuding the extreme confidence that would be expected from defending back-to-back Ivy League co-champions.

"Any great team in any sport will start off the season with a few weaker opponents to work on our games, build confidence, and achieve that confident swagger," senior and top singles player Jason Pinsky said of the pre-Ivy competition.

This sort of thinking - exactly the type that DeVore wanted to keep under control- - almost led to disaster against the Dragons in the first match of the spring season.

The Quakers came out sluggish, and Drexel jumped to an early 2-1 lead after the doubles matches were done. DeVore lectured his team, which then refocused and swept the Dragons in singles.

DeVore, however, does not want to see a similar storyline play out again.

"We're looking to come out more fired up right now, and have a lot more intensity in doubles," DeVore said.

"The doubles matches are all about intensity. It's over in a blink of an eye if you're not careful."

The doubles team will get a boost from senior Brandon O'Gara, who returns to action this meet after recovering from a stress fracture.

"He's one of the best doubles players on our team," DeVore said. "That will help us a great deal."

The Quakers came out slow against Drexel partially because they had cobbled together a starting doubles lineup that included some freshmen and players who have not had much playing time.

This situation should ease up as O'Gara gets worked back into the rotation.

"Having him in the doubles lineup really adds more depth to the team," Pinsky said.

Despite the opposing viewpoints on the team, both DeVore and the players agree on one point: If the Quakers come out focused and energetic, they should be able to dispose of St. Joe's.

"We want to make sure that we keep a high level of intensity throughout the entire match," Pinsky said.

"We know that if we do that, this should be a fairly quick one."

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