Catch the Cavs while you can

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Published: May 11, 2008

If you’re a bandwagon jumper, if you enjoy watching frontrunners, or if you truly appreciate greatness, then reserve a spot at Snyder Tennis Center for 11 a.m. this morning.
That’s where No. 1-ranked Virginia and the nation’s top-rated singles player, Somdev Devvarman, will be attempting to make Cavalier history when they take on Penn State in the NCAA regional.
Brian Boland’s team is 29-0 this season, having already captured the national indoor title. A win over the Nittany Lions would tie a school record for 30 wins in a season and catapult the Cavs to the NCAA round of 16 for the fifth straight year.
Looking ahead?
After quickly disposing of Fairleigh-Dickinson in the NCAA opener on Saturday, it would be understandable if Virginia started thinking about the outdoor title, which will be contested in Tulsa later this week. It would be logical if Devvarman began thinking about defending his national singles title.
However, that’s not how the Cavaliers operate.
Instead, this team works hard in practice each day to improve individually and as a team. Maybe that sounds corny, but it works. Ask any champion.
“They really ‘get it,’” said Boland, whose coaching record at UVa jumped to 166-40 (60-4 the last two seasons). “That’s a great tribute to all of our fourth-years. They understand how important each day is. When you have leaders like these that are with the guys every day, it really sets the tone and makes a difference.”
Perfect chemistry
Those fourth years are Devvarman, Treat Huey, Ted Angelinos, and Andrew Downing. While the first three get all the glory, Downing is an important part of the team chemistry with his leadership.
Boland has coached a lot of players in his 12 seasons in the business (seven at UVa), but pointed out that this senior class understands better than any other the importance of not focusing on themselves, but rather on trying to make everyone around them better. The FDU coach mentioned after Saturday’s loss that his players weren’t accustomed to facing such powerful opponents at the lower numbers in the lineup, which is part of Virginia’s strength.
“When you have a player like Somdev, who is defending national champion, he could get so caught up in it all being about himself, but he’s so concerned about his teammates and sharing victory and spreading the success,” Boland said. “That’s really unique.”
Speaking of unique, examine Huey’s situation. He’s essentially lived in Devvarman’s shadow for the past four years. Yet, check out his accomplishments. The Alexandria native has won 128 career singles matches and been a part of 130 career doubles wins (a UVa record).
At most schools, he would be the big dog. At Virginia, most of the attention is directed toward Devvarman, who chooses to share the spotlight. That became evident when he defeated heavily favored John Isner of Georgia last year in the national singles championship match.
While everyone wanted to listen to Devvarman talk about chopping down Isner, the UVa player kept mentioning about how important it would be for the team to win the national team title in 2008. When the Cavs won the indoor crown, Devvarman said it was the greatest moment of his tennis career.
Now that’s what you call a real team.
“Treat’s never complained about anything,” Boland said. “He’s won 18 straight matches and continues to bring energy, enthusiasm every day. That kind of chemistry is difficult to find.”
On paper, most followers of the program would have scanned the roster and noticed the strength in the senior class and pointed to 2008 as the year of the Cavalier. Lots of coaches in various sports build a program toward a particular year as being their best chance for a national title.
Not Boland. He refuses to think that way.
“I’m not like that,” he said, shaking his head after Saturday’s win. “I feel like my job is to give the guys the best experience possible and to put the Virginia program in a position to compete for the ACC and national championships every year. Not this year or that year.”
That sounds like a lot of pressure, but Boland and his program thrive on it. That’s one reason he plays the toughest national schedule he can every year in order to be battle-tested when they start handing out trophies.
“This team loves pressure and they rise up when the pressure increases,” he said with a grin. “If you don’t like pressure then you certainly don’t want to play for Virginia men’s tennis. You definitely would be in the wrong program. Expectations are high.”
Perhaps it is that kind of language that attracts some of the best tennis talent in the nation to Charlottesville, to be part of what Boland is building.
So, if you’re looking for a bandwagon to jump on, there’s still room.