Junior Tennis Player Looks to Expand Role
Redshirt junior Hall Fess finished last season ranked No. 49 in the nation and hopes to improve this season. (Photo courtesy of Athletic Media Relations)
The Razorback men’s tennis team has started preparing for the season by practicing for the 2012 Louisville Fall Invitational. The invitational will be held Sept. 21-23 in Louisville, Ky. The team finished last year with a 14-13 record in singles and a 1-10 overall record in the Southeastern Conference.
Second-generation Razorback men’s tennis player Hall Fess has great expectations for this year’s season.
“It’s a dream come true,” Fess said. “It’s awesome, growing up having my dad, who played here, talk to me before and after every match. When my dad calls he gets me pumped and going. But because he did play tennis here he instills goals in me that I try to pursue.”
Fess was the tennis team captain at Little Rock Christian Academy and was the No. 1 singles player all four years he was there. Last year Fess, along with his doubles partner Matt Walters, pulled a win over the No. 7 team in the country.
“That has to be my biggest accomplishment so far,” said Fess.
Last year, Fess had an overall record of 8-13 in singles and was 3-5 in dual matches. The talented Little Rock native redshirted his first year and is now on the courts and ready for a successful season.
“I redshirted my freshman year so I couldn’t compete, and it’s hard to focus because you know you have a year and a half before you can play,” said Fess. “But it really helped me mature and experience social life.”
Fess and Walters opened eyes last year on the court. Fess and Walters were the de facto No. 1 doubles team for the Razorbacks all year.
“For our team, my goal is getting in NCAA and breaking in top 25, top 30. Personally, it’s all about the team — whatever helps get us there.”
Fess and Walters ended the season ranked as No. 49 in the nation and don’t plan to stop there.
“It’s never easy. You have to work on being a student athlete. You have to juggle homework, practice, and working out. Time management really helped me throughout the years. It’s exciting and it’s all worth it,” said Fess.
“Since I’m a upperclassman now, being able to step into whatever role is needed is something I have to do. I used to be the younger kid being pulled along, and now I’m already a junior in college,” said Fess. The men’s tennis team has a few new additions this year including Manfred Jeske from South Africa who is expected to play high in the lineup.
