It's Raining Men!

Well, it was March 4th-7th at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, which was filled with collegiate tennis players and other entries. Not only was it 'raining men,' but it was also raining on the final day of the tournament, Sunday, March 7th. There were on and off again spurts of rain, but, in the end, the rain was enough to discourage workers from drying the courts and nets. Matches scheduled for that day were postponed a few weeks later to be played on Sunday, April 4th, Easter Sunday.

Synthetic Guts and Glory

La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club tennis pro MATT PREVIDI was the lead stringer for the tournament. Previdi had a passion for stringing rackets which was apparent during the tournament.


Q: You started stringing rackets Thursday evening and now it is noon on Saturday, how many rackets have you strung so far?

PREVIDI: 45 rackets total.


Q: Wow, that's quite a few rackets... On average, how long does it take you to string just one racket?

PREVIDI: The actual stringing only takes about 15-18 minutes, but from the time I get the racket to the time I hand the racket back to the person it takes about 20-25 minutes because of setup. One of the biggest misconceptions about stringing is speed, as in, 'How fast can you string it for me?' What actually matters is consistency. You want to be able to pull out one of your rackets from your bag and have it be the same as the other ones in your bag.


Q: Tell me about the rackets, strings, and other info that you have come across from the tournament.

PREVIDI: Most players, I'd say about 80%, bring their own string. About 60% use one string for the whole racket and the other 40% or so use hybrids (more than one string per racket). Also, about a third of the rackets I have restrung for the tournament did not have broken strings to begin with, they just wanted a fresh set. The lowest tension I have strung at so far is 48 lbs. and the highest I have strung so far is at 71 lbs.


Q: What are the most popular string and racket you have seen in the tournament?

PREVIDI: The most popular racket is the Babolat Pure Drive and the most popular string is Luxilon.


Q: Which team has had the most rackets restrung so far?

PREVIDI: Stanford, with about 11 rackets so far.


Q: Tell me some basics about tension, what does lower tension versus higher tension mean?

PREVIDI: A lower tension strings have more of a trampoline affect, the ball will travel farther. A higher tension controls more of where the ball goes as far as distance. And actually there is a huge misconception that there is a big difference between five or even 10 lbs. There was a double blind study done where they had people hit with a racket strung at 40 lbs. and with a racket at 80 lbs. and most people couldn't tell a difference.

Top Dogs

Reigning national champion USC was one of the top teams to appear at the PCD Tournament. Entering the tournament the Trojans were ranked 5th in the nation. USC was led by one of their seniors JASON MCNAUGHTON.


Q: Coming in as 5th in the nation do you feel like there is a target on your backs?

MCNAUGHTON: We were number one earlier in the season, but I still feel like we're a target the whole year. We should be ranked higher and hopefully after this week versus UCLA we will move up.


Q: Why did you choose USC?

MCNAUGHTON: I wanted to stay in SoCal and I liked the football team. All of the athletic programs are very good. I knew I would have a good balance socially, athletically, and academically there.


Q: What is your favorite moment as a Trojan?

MCNAUGHTON: Winning the national championship last year. It's the first time we've done it since I've been here.


Q: What do you think of the tournament and/or La Jolla?

MCNAUGHTON: La Jolla is nice and all but when you're on the court you have to stay focused. This tournament has a more relaxed atmosphere, it's more laid back than others.


Q: What equipment do you use?

MCNAUGHTON: A Babolat racket and PolyStar string.

Brotherly Love

La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club tennis pro BROOK DEMING entered the tournament as an independent, teaming up with his younger brother Tyler Deming. Both Demings were Rutgers alumni, Brook in 2003 and Tyler in 2006. The brother duo fell short in their match against nationally ranked Stanford and were eliminated from the tournament.


Q: What happened versus Stanford?

B. DEMING: This was the first time playing together with my brother in two years. In my first match of the day I was bouncing around on my toes, but during my second match I was just standing straight up. My back is also sore from not being used to serving so much.


Q: Obviously you like tennis, you do it for a living. Why tennis?

B. DEMING: Tennis has the most action per point. It's very fast-paced and intense. I also like the individual aspect of the game; it's just YOU making the decisions.


Q: Do you prefer singles or doubles?

B. DEMING: Now?

Q: Yes now.

B. DEMING: I prefer doubles now because you don't have to run as much.

Smarr With a Side of Rice

The Rice University Owls, the other out-of-state team, were no strangers to the Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Tournament as they have participated in this tournament for almost a decade. Head Coach RON SMARR discussed why he and the rest of his Owls continue to flock here year after year.


Q: What do you like about this tournament?

SMARR: I like this tournament because you play best two out of three sets instead of pro sets. We have been fortunate enough to play out here for the past nine or 10 years and historically we have done well in this tournament. We won it in, I believe, 2004 and we went to the semi's last year.


Q: How is your team going into the tournament?

SMARR: Two of our players are not playing because of illness and an injury, so that kind of hurts. In this tournament though we have been mixing up our doubles teams; it's a great opportunity for that. We use this tournament to focus on getting better.


Q: What do you think of La Jolla?

SMARR: If you don't like this, then you need to get your head checked!

From Snow to Sand

Villanova was one of the two teams who traveled from out of state to participate in the tournament. In fact, they traveled the furthest of any team in the tournament on a trip that took over 6 hours in travel time. Freshman KYLE GRANDIN, and doubles partners Junior DAVID SHAHEEN, and Senior ALEX LEESER did not seem to mind the tiresome trek.

Q: What's it like weather-wise in Pennsylvania right now?

GRANDIN: There is a lot of snow at the moment.


Q: What do you think of La Jolla then?

SHAHEEN: It's amazing! We have to play indoors until about March so this is great. I can work on my tan.


Q: Some people especially the locals would say this weather, low 60's, is chilly, but you guys are coming from snow, what do you have to say about that?

LEESER: I'm from New York and I even think it's a little cold because I was expecting 90 degree weather.


Q: How did you get involved in tennis?

SHAHEEN: My home overlooked a bunch of tennis courts and when I was younger I would go down there and ask random people to teach me how to play tennis. Finally someone taught me and I went from there.
LEESER: Everyone in my family played tennis so it was everywhere. My older sister actually played in college at Manhattanville College.
GRANDIN: I played soccer and tennis, but I chose tennis because I wanted to play a sport where I couldn't be pulled out.


Q: Do you prefer playing singles or doubles?

SHAHEEN: Singles.
LEESER: It's because he has me as a partner ha.
SHAHEEN: That and I'm still learning the doubles game
GRANDIN: Doubles.
LEESER: I prefer doubles.


Q: Why did you choose Villanova over other schools?

SHAHEEN: There's a lot of school pride and it is competitive academically and athletically. There is a good balance between fun, academics, and athletics at Villanova.
GRANDIN: I chose Villanova because of its good business program and I wanted to go out of state.


Q: As a Senior Alex, what was your best memory in your college career?

LEESER: I'd have to say starting as a Freshman and all four years.


Q: What equipment do you guys use?

SHAHEEN: I use a Wilson NCode racket and Wilson NXT string. I also put my grip on upside down just as a superstitious thing.
GRANDIN: A Babolat racket and Pro Hurricane strings. I put my grip tape on the normal way.
LEESER: A Wilson Blade with Luxilon string.

Don't Call It a Come Back

Actually, it was a come back. Cal Berkeley Alum GEOFF CHIZEVER came back to La Jolla to particpate once again in the Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Tournament. Chizever played in the tournament with Cal's Assistant Coach Tyler Browne.


Q: You recently graduated so you still know some of the guys on the team right?
CHIZEVER: Yeah, but I live in LA so I don't get to see them that often. It's been fun hanging out with them at this tournament.


Q: You graduated last year from Cal with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, what are you up to now?

CHIZEVER: I'm living in LA and am trying to find a job. Ideally I'd like to find a job in sports television.


Q: ESPN?

CHIZEVER: Where do I sign up!?


Q: What was your most memorable moment while playing for Cal?

CHIZEVER: I'd have to say my Freshman year when we beat Stanford. It was the only time in my career that we beat them.


Q: Do you prefer playing singles or doubles?

CHIZEVER: I only play doubles.


Q: What equipment do you use?

CHIZEVER: A Wilson racket and for strings, whatever the team uses.