Team offers more than experience

Although many clubs allow casual players an outlet for their talent, the president of the IU club tennis team has bigger things in mind for his squad.\nThroughout the 20-plus years the club has been in existence, most have used it for recreational purposes. However, club president Neville Batiwalla said freshmen trying to walk on to the IU varsity tennis teams can use the organization as a way to fine-tune their skills.\n"We are trying to work on a program for players trying to walk on the IU team to come play with us first," Batiwalla said. "They travel with us and it benefits everyone."\nWhile there are currently no freshmen using the club to walk on, Batiwalla hopes more students will take advantage of the program once the word gets out about the opportunities the club provides.\n"I have been talking to the varsity coach and he thinks it is a great idea," Batiwalla said. \nAlthough Batiwalla sees the club as training for potential college players, the club also welcomes players with little to no experience. With the varying skill levels of all of the players, there is no reason to be embarrassed, said club member Joe Hyland.\n"People are (of) all varying skill levels. You can always match up with someone (that is) even as you," Hyland said. "You just find people to hit with and play a set or two."\nUnlike other clubs, the tennis club has an opportunity to travel the Midwest to face other schools. This gives the athletes an opportunity to show their skills against different colleges and players with different styles.\nThe team can travel as far as Illinois and Michigan to participate in head-to-head and tournament matches.\n"We normally leave on Friday evening, grab dinner as a team and hang out the rest of the evening," Batiwalla said. "Then we play Saturday and come back that night."\nJunior David Hughes says the trips are more than just chances to play tennis against other schools; they are a way for the club members to tighten their relationships and become closer friends.\n"The trips are really fun. We get to see all the other campuses and the students and we get to bond as a team," Hughes said.\nThe matches are scored on a five-point United States Tennis Association league format. There are two singles players, two doubles tandems and a mixed doubles team. The team that scores three or more points wins.\n"I am not really nervous about the (upcoming) matches," sophomore Christian Asmussen said. "I do it just as a hobby, but I am excited to get started." \nPractices for the team consist of drills and matches. The team meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Student Recreational Sports Center tennis courts behind the IU Health Center.\nBatiwalla encourages any players of various skill levels to come out and give the sport a try.\n"It is just a club for people who enjoy playing tennis," Batiwalla said. "From coming, I want people to feel they have become a better player"