Men's Schedule | Women's Schedule
Head Coach Matthew Halfpenny begins his second year leading the Norfolk State tennis teams in 2011, and following a challenging first season, Halfpenny is looking to continue the growth of the program as a good nucleus of players return from last year.
Just as important as having players back for a second go-around is having them back with the understanding of where Halfpenny and assistant coach Torrie Browning want to take the program.
“We are continuing to change the culture,” Halfpenny said. “From how to practice, how to train, making sure we condition the right way, eating well and how we handle and prepare our equipment, I'm a big believer in the handling the small details.”
Now that the players understand the importance of those small details and the expectations and challenges ahead of them, Halfpenny believes that will translate to their on-court success.
“It's about understanding the value of doing a job well,” he said. “It's going out onto the court, competing well and doing it with pride. At that point, you'll have nothing else to worry about.
“The kids are excited. We've got a good environment established now.”
That challenging season last year began as the men's team fielded a lineup of just five players during the 2010 campaign. After the graduation of senior Keenan Ruff, Halfpenny brought in three freshmen and one junior college player to combine with several standout juniors to strengthen this year's lineup.
There was less of an overhaul with the women's team, as the Spartans lost a pair of players but added two freshmen to a lineup that already brings back most of its firepower.
Both teams will need that talent, as the Spartans face a very difficult schedule that has each team playing five matches at home in addition to numerous uphill battles on the road both in the MEAC and out of conference. The season kicks off late Sunday at Old Dominion with an 8 p.m. start.
Hope for the men's team stems from the development of juniors Arsenio Culver and Ben Marks, NSU's No. 1 and 2 players all of last year. Culver, who ranked No. 20 in the final Campbell's/ITA Atlantic Region rankings of the year in mid-June, boasted a 13-4 mark at the No. 1 spot, while Marks posted a 7-11 record at No. 2. The duo also paired up and went 7-4 in doubles competition.
The Spartans also return their No. 3 and 5 players in junior Jonathan Sessom and sophomore Dexter McDowell. Sessom posted a 4-13 mark at the No. 3 slot, while McDowell carded a 3-15 record at No. 5 singles. Sessom also competed with Culver and Ruff in doubles play throughout the year.
“The excitement has increased dramatically,” said Halfpenny. “It was a little deflating last year, but our returnees are going to have a very different experience this year after having just five players last season.”
The loss of Ruff, last year's No. 4 player, will be overshadowed by the addition of freshmen Kent Austin, Brian Bullock and Justin Shuck and junior Christian Romanzini, who now give Halfpenny options when it comes to putting a team on the court.
“We'll now be able to make adjustments to our lineup based on who we are playing,” said Halfpenny. “It takes the whole team of eight to be successful, especially on the road.”
All four newcomers will have an immediate impact with the team, starting with Romanzini, who brings a maturity and experience from junior college and international play. Bullock is a very skilled athlete hailing from the Charlotte, N.C., area, where the tennis talent is aplenty, stated Halfpenny, which will allow him to compete with Sessom and McDowell for the lower spots in the lineup.
Along with Romanzini, Austin is also expected to compete for one of the middle spots in the lineup and is one of those players who, “if you asked him to run through a brick wall because it would make him better, he'd do it,” said Halfpenny. The last of the four, Shuck is more of a raw talent with less experience on the bigger stage.
“It was overwhelming at first, as far as all the conditioning and the hours of training, among other areas, but Justin has taken it in stride,” said Halfpenny. “It will be a process for him.”
On the women's side, junior Naeemah Brooks and senior Jennifer Astbury return to lead the Spartans at the top of the lineup. Astbury was NSU's primary No. 1 singles player last year, while Brooks had the team's best mark at 6-9 at the No. 2, 3 and 4 slots. Brooks saw most of her action at No. 3 singles, where she carried a 5-6 record. Astbury also played three matches at the No. 2 position.
“We have good experience with Jennifer and Naeemah,” said Halfpenny. “They'll provide a lot of leadership for us this year.”
The program also returns the primary No. 4-6 players as well in senior Chenge Tsapayi, sophomore Rebecca Graff and junior Ashley Foster.
Tsapayi posted a 4-11 mark that included 4-6 at No. 4 singles, while Graff had a 4-9 record, including 3-8 at No. 5 singles. Foster saw all of her time at No. 6 slot, where she collected a 2-7 record.
“Chenge is a senior with experience who will be a big force in the middle of our lineup,” said Halfpenny. “Rebecca was not here with us in the Fall of 2009, so last Fall was big for her as far as her development and getting the chance to work on her game.
“Ashley has matured a lot and has been progressing well. We'll need all seven of our players to contribute this year.”
The Spartans did lose their No. 2 player, Brittany Foster – sister of Ashley Foster – who competed in 10 matches at the No. 2 spot and in three matches at No. 1 singles. Also lost was Silvia Panush, who went 3-3 at the No. 3, 4 and 5 slots.
A pair of freshmen from Europe arrive on campus to take the place of the Foster and Panush. Gabriella Jonsson, who hails from Stockholm, Sweden, and Maryna Kariuk, who arrives in Norfolk from Kharkiv, Ukraine after a stop at Montana State, will both give the Spartans a boost in the lineup in their first collegiate seasons.
“We feel very good about Gabbi and her commitment to advancing her game on the court,” said Halfpenny. “We're going to look for her to play fairly high up in the lineup. It will be challenging at first, but she is mature and will be able to handle it.
“Maryna trained on her own last year while at Montana State, so she missed that whole year of competition. She's got to overcome that.”
With everything in the program firmly set the way Halfpenny wants it to be, overcoming anything this year for both teams isn't quite as daunting.
