Bulldogs’ inaugural varsity team hope to improve; build
program
Morgan Hill – With no seniors the Sobrato Bulldogs boys tennis team has their work cut out for them in their first varsity season.
“Our goals for the season is to improve everybody’s serve and get everybody some matches to boost their confidence,” said Sobrato coach Randy Barbaglia. “Tennis is not an easy sport. It’s not something you can walk on and play. This season we are a relatively inexperienced, young team.”
In the month or so that the team has been training and learning skills, Barbaglia said the players are very attentive and eager to learn and they spend a lot of time at practice.
“Their tennis skills are improving and by the end of the year, they’ll be great players,” said Barbaglia. “It takes a good three years to build a tennis program, but I have good kids. It’s hard for a young school to get started, but we have a lot of potential.”
Barbaglia, in his second year of coaching, believes the biggest challenge facing his team will be to step up their aggressiveness.
“I teach more of a mental game. It takes a lot of mental training to be aggressive the entire match in tennis,” said Barbaglia.
On Thursday, the Bulldogs were shutout by the Salinas Cowboys, who are thought to be contenders for the TCAL title, 8-0.
Singles player Andrew Le was able to win three games of his second set against his Cowboy opponent.
“We played a very good team and the kids learned a lot,” said Barbaglia. “Sometimes it’s good to play the best.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Sobrato heads to Gilroy to take on the Mustangs.
“We hope to do a lot better,” said Barbaglia.
