Making advancements is something the two Memphis Tiger tennis seniors have in common.
Adjusting to the American collegiate game and maintaining high grades in the classroom have been the task for senior tennis player Joe Schmulian. As for senior Ben Stapp, working to improve season by season on the court has been the challenge.
The duo has managed to achieve a winning record in singles and doubles competition while helping the No. 55 Tigers sustain a national ranking and an overall winning record.
Schmulian said although he is pleased at the success of the team, he is also proud of his academic achievements.
“My first three semesters I had a 4.0 G.P.A.,” Schmulian said. “I got some academic awards like the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. I’m in the honors program. I’ve been doing ok since I have been here.”
The second year Tiger and native of Devon, South Africa said the transfer from the classes and courts of the University of Pretoria in South Africa to The University of Memphis has been another demanding chore.
“I did two years of college in South Africa, and the comparison is absolutely amazing,” Schmulian said. “The way the whole NCAA is structured here is just unreal. The opportunities, how competitive it is and how many teams there are — it’s just a scale I couldn’t even imagine.
“Growing up in South Africa, I played sports there, and so combining that with school is basically like having a 40 hour job. I mean it’s practice everyday and you hit the road during the spring. It’s a different thing, but it’s a great experience, and I’ve been loving it.”
On the over hand, Stapp said he has no love lost for the challenges of living up to a high preseason doubles ranking with partner Lee Taylor Walker.
“I think it has been pretty tough,” Stapp said. “We came in from the preseason No. 12 in the country. We had three or four bad losses this season that threw us out. Now we are No. 52 in the ranking. We still have a few more matches and hopefully we will make the NCAAs.”
Stapp said he wants to make the whole team succeed by being a leader on the court.
“The previous season I let a few matches go, but this season I’m finishing matches when I can,” Stapp said. “We have a few younger guys — a few freshmen, so I’m trying to make an example in my matches.”
The Sydney, Australia native said although he has accomplished a .500 or better season every year at Memphis, he has seen steady improvement over the four years.
“I think I had a pretty good career, and I think I had a winning record every year in singles and doubles,” Stapp said. “I think every year I’ve gotten better. I moved up in position to play the No. 1 singles.”
Both Stapp and Schmulian have seen action at the No. 1-3 singles courts playing the other squad’s best player.
Schmulian has compiled a 10-6 singles record and a 9-7 doubles record with sophomore Alex Bucewicz.
Stapp has amassed a 12-4 singles record and a 10-5 record with Walker.
Tiger head coach Phil Chamberlain said his two seniors have provided great leadership for the younger Tigers at all times.
“I must say they have stepped up big time on the court and off the court,” Chamberlain said. “We have two great ones leading this team — there’s no question about that. They bring it in practice really hard and their play has been really outstanding playing some of the toughest competition in the country.”
Chamberlain said along with the seniors, the tougher schedule has made the Tigers more durable to close out the regular campaign unbeaten after the March 10 loss to the Old Dominion Monarchs.
“We set a goal after losing to a higher ranked team that we would try to win 10 in a row,” Chamberlain said. “If we do that, that would give us the option of getting an at-large bid into the (NCAA) tournament if we don’t win the conference tournament.”
The Tigers (10-6, 2-1 in C-USA) are half way home on their goal. Memphis has defeated Cornell, Troy State, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech since the loss to the Monarchs.
Memphis’ last victory came courtesy of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles last Friday. The Tigers won 6-1 behind earning the doubles point. The duos of Schmulian/ Bucewicz and Brendan Malarkey/ Alex Jago defeated their opponents 8-5 and 8-2 respectively to get Memphis out to a 1-0 lead.
Five Tigers would win their singles matches to take the contest.
Schmulian said the goal of finishing the season’s last 10 games undefeated is still fresh on his and the team’s mind along with having a good showing in the C-USA tournament in Milwaukee, Wis., in mid April.
“We got five regular season matches left — basically we want to win all of them,” Schmulian said. “We got conference championships and we’re looking toward having a good shot at it. So, hopefully we end up in the top four.”
