Spinner leads netmen's surge

By STEVE FEITL
Collegian Sports Writer

In order to be successful in any sport, a team needs good leadership.

With the men's tennis team --winner of six straight matches -- that leadership starts with Ivan Spinner.

For Spinner, the Lions' No. 1 player and co-captain, it is a role he has accepted and appreciated.

"I think it's a big role when you're a senior," he said. "To have the guys on your team expect you to win and look up to you, it really does mean a lot."

His leadership is evident at any Penn State match. At last weekend's 4-3 win over Indiana, the entire team was standing on an adjacent court cheering on freshman Dale Cathell as he played for the match. Coach Jan Bortner credited Spinner and co-captain Chris Cahill for the team's show of support.

"Our captains do a nice job making sure that the players know when their matches are done -- their main job becomes cheering on their teammates," Bortner said. "That comes from good leadership."

Spinner has also been influential off the court in helping newcomers adjust to the team. Freshman Colin Smeeton recalled how Spinner guided the freshmen during the first week of practice and said Spinner leads by example.

And on the court, Spinner is an example of dominance. He has been one of the Lions' most consistent players, winning seven out of eight matches this spring.

"He's just amazing," Smeeton said. "He dominates every time he goes out there. He's a big force for our team and in the Big Ten."

Spinner said his strengths are his aggressiveness and his ability to handle pressure situations.

"I don't sit back and wait for the other person to make the error," he added. "I usually go and try to put the pressure on them and make them come up with the shot."

Spinner is also a successful doubles player. He has formed a regular doubles team with junior Doug Schoenly, who noted Spinner's speed.

"He's really quick," Schoenly said. "He gets to the balls that you don't think he's going to get to. He plays hard all the time and makes it fun."

But earlier in the semester, Spinner said he was unhappy with his play. A stomach virus forced him to miss the Princeton Indoor Individual on Feb. 10-12 and the Penn State Winter Classic the next week. Spinner returned to the lineup in March, but said he felt rusty and did not play well in the team's March 4 loss to Ohio State.

The Lions' spring break trip to Texas rejuvenated him.

"Because it was my senior year, I wanted everything to go well," Spinner said. "I wasn't playing that well, and then I went on the spring trip. I got my strokes down and my confidence back. I feel really good out there now."

With his game back on track, Spinner is looking forward to a successful season for the Lions. He is also hoping to return to the NCAA tournament and garner All-America honors.

Following the season, Spinner will travel to Europe. This summer, he will compete in several professional tournaments to try his hand at the next level of tennis.

"I'll just take it day by day," he said, "and see how much I enjoy it."