The men’s tennis bid farewell to its top three players as it closes another successful season and takes second place in the Northwest Conference rankings.
For the first time ever, the men’s tennis team had three players to land on the first all-conference team.
Seniors Giancarlo Battaglia, Grayson Frazier and Brennan Faith ended their last Pacific season with high honors and were major players in the team’s conference record of 10-2.
Battaglia ended his college career being named on the all conference team for the fourth time. He ended his season ranked 15th in the Division III West Region according to the April 2 International Tennis Federation rankings.
Brennan and Frazier pulled in an eighth place ranking in the Division III West Region in doubles, making them the most powerful doubles pair on the team.
The duo transferred onto the team their junior years and were paired to room and play together for the rest of their college careers.
“Chemistry is a big thing for us,” Frazier said. “We are really good friends.”
Faith said chemistry was a big part to the overall team success as well.
“We came in last year to the team and just clicked,” Faith said. “We study together and do everything together besides being on the court.”
The closeness and support between the players is hard to miss at home matches, with Brennan and Faith leading cheers to keep the team motivated.
Frazier said the team draws their energy from the top schools in the sports.
“Me and Grayson really keep the energy up, “said Faith.
Faith has two years left of eligibility but his play will depend on whether or not he comes back to Pacific for graduate school.
“I am treating this as my last season,” Faith said.
Faith said he thinks the close seconds the team has dealt with prior to now has contributed to the drive he thinks will push them through next season.
Frazier attributed a large part of the team’s success to their head coach, Brian Jackson. Frazier said Jackson recruited the large 2013-2014 class he and Faith were a part of and has done a good job at continuing that recruiting excellence preparing for next season.
Losing Battaglia, Frazier and Faith will be a blow to the team, but Frazier said he thinks the upcoming players as well as strong recruiting will keep the team moving forward.
Frazier said sophomores Ruben Mulhern and Clark Wininger are a promising pair in doubles to rise to the challenge and become team leaders.
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