"We were just talking at practice about how much fun it is to play matches," said assistant coach Dave Jones. "In college, sometimes those tournaments are hard to get psyched up for."
However, the opening test for Dartmouth -- who went 8-14 overall with a 0-7 mark in the Ivy League a year ago -- will not be easy. The Big Green faces two opponents who had a combined record of 43-16 in 2005. In addition, the Big Green confronted both the Golden Knights and Tigers in match play last season, falling 4-3 and 7-0, respectively.
"We'll be playing both our matches away; it will be pretty tough to deal with," captain Dave Waslen '07 said about this weekend's contests. "We'll try to go to war and just get after them and be as fired up as possible."
"Last year, we had a pretty good team, but this year this team is a lot better," Raj Shrestha '06 said. "I think we're ready; we should win both of them this weekend."
Army, which posted a 21-5 mark last year, clinched a 2005 NCAA Tournament bid by defeating American University 4-3 to capture the Patriot League Championship. The Golden Knights bowed out of the tournament after they fell to 14th-seeded Texas Tech 4-0.
Clemson, which ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation last year, went 25-11 and reached the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in 2005. For their effort, the Tigers earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Northwestern in opening round play before falling to the University of Georgia in the second round 4-0.
The squad from South Carolina has qualified for the tournament 22 times, which includes 18 appearances in the Final Sixteen and seven appearances in the Final Eight, the latest being in 2004.
Head coach Chuck Kinyon, in his 23rd year at Dartmouth, commented that while the graduation of a couple key Army players could make that match close, the clash against Clemson is going to be a whole different story.
"Traditionally Clemson is very, very strong," Kinyon said of the Tigers. "The idea against Clemson is to go out and play our game, and not to get overwhelmed by them. It should be a very interesting and challenging matchup."
According to Jones, the shortcomings in the past should not be the only factor that determines this weekend's outcome.
"We saw Army a little bit in the fall at the ITA Regionals," he said. "We should do well this weekend. Most of the guys are back this year, and all the guys that moved up are playing really well."
Kinyon expressed concern, however, about the lack of experience of his team, even with the upperclassmen.
"We have a very young team," he said. "We had four juniors off in the fall who didn't play at all, and some of the four haven't had competition since last April."
From the Big Green Invitational up until Jan. 15, the team was not allowed to have official practices. However, in the players' minds, the break did not give the squad a free pass.
"When the team was around, they were getting together at captains' practices," said Jones. "They know what they have to work on. A lot of it is fitness, trying to get into really good shape. They tend to push each other a little more, and they're motivating each other."
Added Waslen, "I would say that captains' practices were pretty effective because we could work on every little facet of our game that we think we're lacking."
While the players focused on their strength and stamina during their two-month hiatus from collegiate competition, the coaching staff has been focusing on refining technique and skill to try to win every game and get every important point. Specifically, Jones said that during the past week the coaches have been focusing on improving the team's doubles play.
As for the whole season, Shrestha hopes that this weekend will act as a springboard for success later in the winter and beyond.
"I think we have a hungry team for this year," he said. "I think we are all really motivated. Everyone has the same goal in mind -- we all want to do well in the Ivy season come spring."
But first the Dartmouth men's tennis team must find a way to knock off the Golden Knights and the Tigers. The Big Green first takes on Army on its home turf on Saturday, and concludes the road trip against Clemson on Sunday. Both matches are set for 9 a.m.
