Everyone on the UCLA men’s tennis team seems to be
entering this weekend’s National Team Indoors tournament with
a different attitude.
Benjamin Kohlloeffel is excited about his first trip to
Chicago.
Coach Billy Martin is excited about going home.
Chris Lam is excited to see how the Bruins stack up.
And when the weekend is over, Lam’s concern will
undoubtedly be shared by everyone else.
“It will be really good,” Lam said.
“We’ll see what we’re up against.
Everyone’s going to be there, so after this tournament,
we’ll know what the competition’s like, and we’ll
know where we stand.”
The National Team Indoors, which begins Thursday when the
second-seeded Bruins (8-0) take on Oklahoma State, feature 16 of
the top teams in the country. Hosted by the University of Illinois
at the Mid-Town Tennis Club in Chicago, the Indoors will provide
the Bruins with a chance to show the rest of the country their
talent and what they will likely be bringing to the NCAA
Championships in May.
“You’ve got the top 16 teams, and we’re not
going to see many of these teams again until we hopefully get to
the NCAA tournament,” Martin said. “That makes it kind
of special.”
Also special for Martin will be the opportunity to return home.
The Bruin coach, who was the NCAA singles champion at UCLA in 1975,
grew up in Chicago, even playing at the Mid-Town Tennis Club,
before moving to California in 1971.
He said he almost certainly would have gone to school in the
Midwest had he not moved to California. But even now that
he’s a firmly entrenched Bruin, the chance to return home
will bring back some memories. And whether he wants it or not,
he’ll almost certainly be remembered.
“I doubt it,” said the humble Martin, who was named
by one publication as the junior tennis player of last century.
“They’ve long forgotten me.”
The Bruin coach will also use this unique opportunity to see the
rest of the top teams in the country, teams the Bruins likely
won’t see until deep in the NCAA tournament, including No. 1
Baylor, No. 3 Illinois, and No. 4 Georgia.
“I love watching the other matches,” Martin said.
“I’m going to watch Georgia and Virginia, whether we
win or lose. I’m definitely going to scout out some of those
other teams, no doubt about it.”
For Kohlloeffel, who traveled with the team to the National Team
Indoors in Detroit last year but didn’t get to play,
he’ll get a taste of the intensity that four matches in four
days will bring.
“I really liked the trip to Detroit last year, and
I’m really looking forward to the trip to Chicago,”
Kohlloeffel said. “Also, obviously I like to see all the good
teams. I want to get a whole picture of how good all of the teams
are in total, not just their No. 1 or No. 2 players.”