Feb. 15, 2010
Spring Sports Media Day
Penn State Head Coach Todd Doebler
Q: You are 7-1 to start the year. Is the team where you want it to be headed into the Blue-Gray Tournament and conference play?
A: I think we are off to a good start. I think we need to get everybody healthy and get guys playing at a higher level. We've got two weeks to do that until we play Cornell who almost beat us last year and overall I think we still have a losing record against them as a program.
Q: What is the forecast for you and the Big Ten conference this year?
A: I think the conference every year gets better and better. Ohio State is a top five team, Illinois is a top 15 team and Wisconsin is in the top 25 right now. I'm not sure if the Big Ten has ever had seven teams in the NCAA tournament, but I think that's a distinct possibility this year. From where we stand with that, I think we need to keep getting better and keep improving until then. Basically when we get in those close matches we need to convert.
Q: Can you talk about the Blue-Gray Tournament and the type of experience it is going to be for you guys this year?
A: Every year we go there are top 25 teams we play against. Other than the NCAA Tournament and the ITA Indoor Championships, this tournament is one of the top tournaments in the country. It's an amazing event. They put all the players up in housing. We play three matches in three days. If you make it to the finals it's four matches in four days. In terms of preparing for conference play and the NCAA's, it's one of best experiences we can have.
Q: In a dual match, how important is it to get off to a good start in doubles?
A: Matches can still be lost when you win the doubles. But I think in our case, I think it's a huge start. I would say that if we can get the doubles, then you basically need to split the singles and you can get out with a win. I think it's important. Our guys work really hard at it and really take a lot of pride in it. I think when they win that doubles point it gives them more confidence because they invest so much time and energy and its paying off. Going into singles, it helps take some pressure off some guys.
Q: Can you talk about the production of your freshmen class so far this spring?
A: We signed Brian (Welnetz) and Warren (Hardie) early. When Warren is healthy he has proven that he can play with a lot of players. He's a little banged up right now, but he is getting healthy. He beat a guy from Georgia Tech who is an experienced player. He beat him without really being able to serve. So we are pretty excited about him in singles and doubles. Brian is making huge strides quickly. He was a highly-recruited student-athlete. I think both of them will make big contributions for the rest of the year. (Guanhua) Chen and C.J. (Griffin) they are coming along really nicely. Taylor who is a transfer is working really hard and is just throwing him self into the team and program environment. I think they are making really good progress for a class.
Ryan Gormley, senior captain
Q: What type of things have you adjusted into your game and your leadership this year?
A: As far as my game goes, I have been trying on improving my weaknesses and playing towards the top of the lineup and trying to hold my own against some of the better players. For the team, I am just trying to lead them. We have a very young team this year with four freshmen and a transfer. There is only three upper classmen. We are really trying to set the example around here and how we practice hard. Everyone has done a great job of buying in. That's why I think we've had a pretty successful spring so far.
Q: You guys have had a lot of success in doubles. What do you think has been the turning point in the team improving that aspect?
A: I think the most important thing is that we all bought in to the format of doubles that we play. Everyone on our team has different strengths and weaknesses. We really try to play a strategy that is like your average doubles strategy. We all play towards our strengths. In college how we play might be a little unique or different. It's been very effective and I think that's why we have been pretty successful and hopefully we can keep building on that because I think we can do better in that this year than we have in the past.