The Penn men's tennis team didn't have time to surf or tan over spring break as they traveled to take on four talented California programs: Loyola Marymount, UC Santa Barbara, Claremont and UC Irvine.
The Quakers went 2-2 on their road trip, defeating UC Santa Barbara and Claremont but falling to Loyola Marymount and UC Irvine.
First, the Quakers struggled to adapt to the outdoor atmosphere and fell to Loyola Marymount, 5-2.
"That first match outside during the spring-break trip is always a tough one," coach Nik DeVore said.
The Quakers, though, bounced back to defeat Claremont and Santa Barbara with the help of No. 1 junior Hicham Laalej.
"Hicham was definitely the standout performer over the break," DeVore said.
Laalej, who transferred from Stetson, where he competed on outside hardcourts in Florda, easily handled the California weather. He was victorious in three of four singles matches, including an impressive win over UC Irvine's Steven Henderson, 6-3, 6-3.
DeVore stated that this was Laalej's "best tennis all spring" as he seemed to "underachieve" earlier in the season despite his national ranking of 105 in the fall.
"I had a slow start in the beginning of the season after playing my first three seasons outdoors," Laalej said. "But now it is a different story, and I am playing well indoors."
Devore also stressed the importance of the trip as experience for freshmen Phil Law and Jason Lin.
Law, who has been battling a shoulder injury, had a precautionary MRI before break that came back negative, and doctors have diagnosed his injury as severe tendonitis.
DeVore emphasized Law's improved confidence - which was evident as he clinched the deciding singles match for Penn against Claremont.
"It was a battle of nerves and Phil won out in the end," DeVore said. "It was a good test because in some of these Ivy matches one of our freshmen might be called on to decide it for us, and that was a really good experience for him."
However, Penn was without star senior captain and No. 2 singles player, Jonathan Boym, who was unable to compete due to an ongoing shoulder injury.
DeVore realizes the impact of his captain's injury.
"He's devastated right now," Devore said. "He is really equal in talent to Hicham, so we will have arguably the best one-two punch in the league when he is healthy."
With Boym out, Laalej has had to take on a bigger role - both on and off the court.
"When he is in the lineup . the matches are much easier for us," Laalej said. "When he is on the court we have more confidence and more talent, but we will definitely have to be more focused and fired up in the Ivy League matches."
