Although the men's tennis team is traveling to the West Coast next week, it will not be spending the time wandering on the beach, watching the sun set and relaxing before the upcoming Ivy League season.
The Quakers (5-4) will have to leave the comforts of Levy Pavilion - where they remain undefeated so far this season - to take on four competitive California squads, two of which are nationally ranked.
Penn faces Loyola Marymount (0-6) Monday, likely the Quakers' least challenging match over break.
Next Penn travels to play No. 62 UC Santa Barbara (4-5) Wednesday. The Gauchos' roster includes standout players such as Denmark natives sophomore Alex Konigsfeldt and junior Philip Therp. Though Therp, last year's Big West Player of the Year, has been suffering from a hip injury, other players are keeping UCSB a threat.
A day later the Quakers will find themselves on the home court of the Claremont Stags (9-1). Claremont, which finished third in last year's Division III semifinals, has lost no matches at home. Penn can expect tough competition from the Stags, especially from seniors Guillaume Schils and Lawrence Wang, who are the reigning 2008 Division III doubles champions. Even though Penn plays in Division I, coach Nik DeVore is in no way underestimating them.
"It's very common for some of the Ivy schools to lose to D-III schools," DeVore said. "They're dangerous. Really dangerous. They have a lot of talented players and we're playing at their place. So that's basically like playing, in my mind, a pretty solid Ivy team."
After a day off, the Red and Blue will face their final opponent, No. 70 UC Irvine (3-6), which is carrying momentum from two straight 6-1 victories. The Anteaters are getting much of their strength this year from their younger players. Freshman Fabian Matthews, who currently leads the team with a 5-3 singles record, was named Big West Player of the Week for his performance last week.
With four matches to play within a span of six days, the Quakers have a tough week ahead, a fact that senior captain Jonathan Boym is well aware of.
"It's not going to be easy. That's a tough spring break schedule, but we're ready," he said. "Everyone's had a chance to play so far this season, unlike other seasons where some guys never had a chance to play this early in the season. Everyone's had their shot."
The Quakers will be using the road games as a chance to keep trying out new doubles combinations in hopes of getting the teams set for the Ivy League season. One team that will probably stay together is the combination of juniors Justen Roth and Alex Vasin, who have won two matches in a row.
"We're still experimenting. We're not the only team doing that." DeVore said. "It's a real luxury if your doubles teams are set, and even then they can become a little bit stagnant and you have to change it up at some point."
Penn hasn't faced another team since last Wednesday's 6-1 win against city rival Saint Joseph's. DeVore believes a week and a half of rest before going up against the Lions will help.
"We've been drilling really hard, practicing really hard, and it's a long season," DeVore said, "We have to try to keep our competitive edge, though, so there's another side to that."
Regardless of whether or not the team goes undefeated on the road, the high level of competition will certainly get the Red and Blue prepared for their Ancient Eight rivals.
"I'd like to see us win all four matches and make a serious statement going into the Ivy League season," Boym said. "If not, if we don't win all four and end up losing a couple, that's fine as long as the guys are playing hard, we're focused, playing with heart and we're going to still use that momentum going into the Ivy League season."
