USJ tennis motivated for postseason success

Ted Measley said motivating both tennis teams at University School of Jackson isn't a tough task.

Considering the boys' team enters next week's Division II-A West region tournament as the undefeated No. 1 seed and the girls are No. 2 with one loss, that seems to be an accurate statement.

"One thing we've talked about all season for motivation is trying to keep home-court advantage for sub-state in a couple of weeks," said Measley, who recently completed his second regular season coaching the Bruins. "They're competitive and want to win, and the wins we've gotten this year have made us want to continue to be successful. So all of that has combined to motivate them."

The boys' team is undefeated without playing with its full squad for most of the year. George Markos, who's been one of the team's top players in recent years, was hurt all season until returning for the final two matches of the regular season. He's played in the No. 2 role behind No. 1 Cade Reasons.

"Yeah that's something that's big for us because while we would've liked to have had George there for us all year, all the players behind him have gotten some quality experience and done well," Measley said. "We've probably lost a few games at No. 2 we probably wouldn't have at No. 3 and the same thing the rest of the way down.

"But all those players are better for it, and that's a big reason why we're playing better now than what we were at the beginning of the season."

One particular player who's stood out for the Bruins is senior Hollen Spencer, who's played in the No. 5 position in his first year of varsity tennis competition.

"Some of the matches we've won are because he got a crucial victory for us in that 5 spot," Measley said. "One of those that he won he came back from 7-2.

"When he was down, I walked over to him and told him we needed the win pretty badly or else we'd need to win both doubles to win that day. He looked at me and said, 'Coach I got this.' He came all the way back and won."

The girls are led by seniors Tori Hockaday, Hope Magee and Nicole Sioson. It's been a few years since the Lady Bruins have made it to Murfreesboro, and Measley said the group wants to be the one to lead them back.

"That's something they've talked about a lot, and it's doable if we come out of this region tournament with a home-court advantage for sub-state," Measley said. "So that's the goal."

The boys have finished the past two years as state runners-up to Knoxville Webb.

"We really want to get back there and see what we can do in that situation again," Measley said.

The region's individual and doubles tournaments will be played this week at St. George's with the team tournaments the following week. Substate will be played the week after with a shot at the four-team state tournament at Spring Fling on the line.

"We're playing well right now," Measley said. "We've played tough competition like the Rotary Tournament where the top teams in the South are invited to compete and against teams like MUS and Briarcrest.

"We've just got to continue that kind of play."

Brandon Shields, 425-9751