The men’s tennis team will play its first home game on the newly resurfaced tennis court Friday against Alabama State at 2 p.m.
The Rattlers played their five previous home games on Florida State University’s tennis court.
Returning player Temuera Asafu-Adjaye, a fourth-year physical therapy student from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, said he approached this season the same as he did last year.
“My goal is to try to do all I can to repeat a good season,” he said.
Chidi Gabriel, a senior political science student from Piscataway, N.J., said the dynamics of the team has not changed much.
“I’m used to everything already,” Gabriel said. “But we have to help get the new guys used to playing these dual matches.”
Head coach Carl Goodman has high hopes this year after his team went 15-10 last season.
“The biggest difference this season is that we’re more mature and we’re more focused in terms of finishing matches,” Goodman said. “Our main goal is having the ability to stay focused at the end.”
Goodman said the team has been setting realistic goals and playing well.
“When the team does well, I try to give those light days of practice,” he said. “I do what I can to make sure that they are happy.”