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Balian, Flyers ready for test
TheSpectrum.com (St. George, Utah)
Mar 29, 2013
ST. GEORGE - One of the more difficult tasks in any walk of life is
not just achieving success, but rather maintaining it.
This is the type of scenario facing Dixie High's Tevan Balian.
The confident junior knows what his tennis capabilities are, and what
it takes to compete in one of the state's toughest regions. Thus, he's
certainly up for whatever challenges come his way this spring.
`I play at a very competitive club, so my drive to get better has
existed before high school tennis was a reality to me,' Balian
said. `Clinching another title will be harder than it was last year,
which is why I need to keep working my butt off and hope all of my
work will pay off.'
Based off last year's results, it would be easy to assume Balian
coasted through the opposition after posting a 23-0 record. The Flyer
ousted Park City's Stefan Dancy in the 3A state title game to claim
the No. 2 singles bracket.
Obviously, the challenges on the court was more difficult than it
appears on paper, but make no mistake, Balian knows this season will
be much different since he'll be competing in No. 1 singles.
In the same regard, however, the junior isn't expected to overthink
his new responsibility or alter his style of play.
=80=9CIt won't be that much of a transition, though, I've been getting
better opponents to play compared to last year,' Balian said. `For
me, I've been working on controlled aggression and really driving the
crosscourt shot. ... If I see an opportunity to storm the net, I take
it.'
Balian hasn't seen much action in preps this season. Fortunately for
him, though, it hasn't impacted his standing in region as the rules of
seeding players have since changed.
Dixie coach Eric Christensen said principals changed the seeding
structure of this year's boy's season, which now allows each team to
have a true preseason and figure out their respective
lineups. Christensen added the first six matches will be preseason
while the final six count towards the seeding for the region
tournament.
For a seasoned competitor like Balian, chances are he'll be ready for
those final six matches when the time comes, and once again be a
viable contender for the top seed in region and state.
`He is a very good player with a strong baseline game, great hands on
his return of serves, and serves with consistency,' Christensen said.
Outside of preps, Balian competes in USTA Intermountain tournaments,
which does help get his name out to potential collegiate
programs. Entering Friday, Tennisrecruiting.net lists Balian as the
No. 15 ranked player in the Intermountain Region and as a two-star
recruit.
Back at Dixie, the focus is on preparation, and putting the team in a
chance to compete for a region title.
`We have a deep group this year with 10-12 guys competing for the
seven varsity spots,' Christensen said. `The three singles spots are
(kind of) locked up with one of the three struggling with a wrist
injury. So things could change if he can't come back.'
Outside of Balian, Micah Alba and Luke Heaton is expected to make up
the rest of the Flyers' singles lineup. Alba, a sophomore, finished
second in state in No. 1 doubles with Heaton last year. Christensen
said Alba's strengths are a big serve with heavy topspin
groundstrokes. The one hiccup for him, however, could be inconsistent
play, which the coaching staff said the sophomore's worked diligently
to overcome during the offseason.
Heaton, if healthy, could be a real threat in No. 3 singles. He'll
have a lot to prove as he's yet to play this season. `He had an
unlucky tennis injury with his right wrist just flicking a tennis ball
and he's still trying to rehab it, and come back this season,'
Christensen said.
Like any other prep team, Dixie will need consistency from top to
bottom in order to have a successful 2013 campaign. Not only does the
talent push each other in practice, but the depth allows them to earn
critical wins over many brackets, particularly in doubles.
Christensen has an outline of what he hopes to see from this year's
group.
`The key for these players will be to have a plan in their matches on
every point they play,' Christensen said. `They will have to learn to
play to their own strengths and expose the weaknesses of their
opponent. Singles matches are less of a reaction match (like doubles)
and more of a plan match where each player needs to think two-to-three
shots ahead.'
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
TheSpectrum.com (St. George, Utah)
Mar 29, 2013
ST. GEORGE - One of the more difficult tasks in any walk of life is
not just achieving success, but rather maintaining it.
This is the type of scenario facing Dixie High's Tevan Balian.
The confident junior knows what his tennis capabilities are, and what
it takes to compete in one of the state's toughest regions. Thus, he's
certainly up for whatever challenges come his way this spring.
`I play at a very competitive club, so my drive to get better has
existed before high school tennis was a reality to me,' Balian
said. `Clinching another title will be harder than it was last year,
which is why I need to keep working my butt off and hope all of my
work will pay off.'
Based off last year's results, it would be easy to assume Balian
coasted through the opposition after posting a 23-0 record. The Flyer
ousted Park City's Stefan Dancy in the 3A state title game to claim
the No. 2 singles bracket.
Obviously, the challenges on the court was more difficult than it
appears on paper, but make no mistake, Balian knows this season will
be much different since he'll be competing in No. 1 singles.
In the same regard, however, the junior isn't expected to overthink
his new responsibility or alter his style of play.
=80=9CIt won't be that much of a transition, though, I've been getting
better opponents to play compared to last year,' Balian said. `For
me, I've been working on controlled aggression and really driving the
crosscourt shot. ... If I see an opportunity to storm the net, I take
it.'
Balian hasn't seen much action in preps this season. Fortunately for
him, though, it hasn't impacted his standing in region as the rules of
seeding players have since changed.
Dixie coach Eric Christensen said principals changed the seeding
structure of this year's boy's season, which now allows each team to
have a true preseason and figure out their respective
lineups. Christensen added the first six matches will be preseason
while the final six count towards the seeding for the region
tournament.
For a seasoned competitor like Balian, chances are he'll be ready for
those final six matches when the time comes, and once again be a
viable contender for the top seed in region and state.
`He is a very good player with a strong baseline game, great hands on
his return of serves, and serves with consistency,' Christensen said.
Outside of preps, Balian competes in USTA Intermountain tournaments,
which does help get his name out to potential collegiate
programs. Entering Friday, Tennisrecruiting.net lists Balian as the
No. 15 ranked player in the Intermountain Region and as a two-star
recruit.
Back at Dixie, the focus is on preparation, and putting the team in a
chance to compete for a region title.
`We have a deep group this year with 10-12 guys competing for the
seven varsity spots,' Christensen said. `The three singles spots are
(kind of) locked up with one of the three struggling with a wrist
injury. So things could change if he can't come back.'
Outside of Balian, Micah Alba and Luke Heaton is expected to make up
the rest of the Flyers' singles lineup. Alba, a sophomore, finished
second in state in No. 1 doubles with Heaton last year. Christensen
said Alba's strengths are a big serve with heavy topspin
groundstrokes. The one hiccup for him, however, could be inconsistent
play, which the coaching staff said the sophomore's worked diligently
to overcome during the offseason.
Heaton, if healthy, could be a real threat in No. 3 singles. He'll
have a lot to prove as he's yet to play this season. `He had an
unlucky tennis injury with his right wrist just flicking a tennis ball
and he's still trying to rehab it, and come back this season,'
Christensen said.
Like any other prep team, Dixie will need consistency from top to
bottom in order to have a successful 2013 campaign. Not only does the
talent push each other in practice, but the depth allows them to earn
critical wins over many brackets, particularly in doubles.
Christensen has an outline of what he hopes to see from this year's
group.
`The key for these players will be to have a plan in their matches on
every point they play,' Christensen said. `They will have to learn to
play to their own strengths and expose the weaknesses of their
opponent. Singles matches are less of a reaction match (like doubles)
and more of a plan match where each player needs to think two-to-three
shots ahead.'
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress