Jacob Veldhuizen March 11, 2008

Central travels to California

PELLA—The Central College men’s and women’s tennis squads are traveling to California this week, but beach time will be scarce.

The Dutch men (5-4) will face three highly ranked foes in three days, starting with No. 16-rated (NAIA) Vanguard University (Calif.) March 17 in Costa Mesa. After an off day March 18, Central travels to Orange for a March 20 clash at 1 p.m. with Chapman University (Calif.), rated No. 11 in the NCAA Division III West Region. That evening the Dutch make a quick trek to Irvine to face No. 8-ranked (NAIA) Concordia Univeristy (Calif.) at 6 p.m.

“In order for us to close the gap with the other top schools in Iowa Conference I feel we have to play top quality competition week in and week out,” said first-year coach Bryan Mours. “These schools are going to play a different style, but we have seen it enough now with the opponents we have played thus far and it should not be an issue.”

Mours sees the trip as a chance to solidify the current squad and to prepare for the future.

“We are going to use this trip to improve this year and set the stage for next year by giving (the four underclassmen traveling) some really good experience,” he said. “We really want to find out where we are at lineup-wise right now and set that to move on towards the conference tournament.”

While Mours has not set a concrete lineup, he has a game plan for utilizing all his players.

He will start Jared Feddersen (senior, Fort Dodge) at No. 1 singles for at least two of the three matches. Feddersen is 6-3 this season.

“Jared Feddersen has played No.1 all year,” said Mours.  “I expect he will play two matches for sure at No. 1. I want to give Luke Boyd (sophomore, Fort Dodge) a look and opportunity to play No. 1 to see what that is like because he is the future for us in that spot.  They are pretty close in practice so it should not be an issue.”

Boyd will look to add to his current 5-4 campaign at No. 2 singles.

“Luke Boyd is going to play two out of the three matches at No. 2 and get the chance to play No. 1 in the other match,” said Mours.  “I expect them (Boyd and Feddersen) to maintain being very consistent and put the ball in play.

Dan Bowser (freshman, Fort Dodge) will play No. 3 singles and look to add to his 6-3 record.Nick Schnicker

“This trip for (Dan) is about growing and improving and setting the stage for next year when he jumps further in the lineup and becomes a leader for the program,” said Mours.

No. 4 through No. 6 singles will rotate between Jacob Dreyer (freshman, Cedar Falls), Justin Scherff (senior, Denison, Denison-Schleswig HS) and Chris Bliss (senior, Ottumwa).

“Justin Scherff (2-2), and Chris Bliss (2-4) have rotated between (No.) 4, 5 and 6 singles this year and they will continue (that) in California,” said Mours. “Jacob Dreyer (3-3) has played at No. 5 and 6 for us this year.”

Freshmen Jacob Veldhuizen (Wausau, Wis.) and Nick Schnicker (Burlington) are also traveling.

“If they are coming, they are going to play,” said Mours. “If the schools have other kids to play exhibitions, we will utilize that. Otherwise, we will find a way to let them play."

The women’s squad will also play Vanguard and Concordia the same days as the men.

Mours is excited with having both teams travel together.

“It will be really good because the women will be out there as well,” said Mours.  Our (men) and (women) are really close and it is a good way for them to hang out off-campus and support each other.”