糖心vlog

Not long ago in 2021, the program did not have enough student-athletes to play a season.

Three years later, after a total rebuild, the team sits in first place in the West Coast Conference standings and is nationally ranked for the first time since 2016. The Tigers carry an astounding 15-1 record, including 4-0 in the WCC, have won 14 consecutive matches and are ranked No. 47 in the country.

The turnaround comes under the guidance of third-year , who inherited a team that finished 1-13 the season prior to his arrival.

鈥淢y first season we didn鈥檛 have enough players and we struggled to get a full roster, leading us to opt out of 2021,鈥� Goodman said. 鈥淔rom there, the focus was getting in the right people while building a team culture the guys could buy into, so that when we did come back, we were stronger and better than before.鈥�

One of the core structural changes was adopting a team-first identity, as tennis is often portrayed as a solitary sport. Goodman had to shift that mindset of his student-athletes, and he drills it into everything they do. From practice to weight training, to cool downs, to analytics, they do everything collectively.

鈥淥ne of my philosophies when it comes to succeeding at the collegiate level is that we are a team,鈥� Goodman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 getting them to think through the lens that 鈥榳e have to succeed鈥� rather than just 鈥業 have to succeed.鈥� The best programs tend to be the ones that play together the best and play as a unit.鈥�

He added, 鈥淲e had to instill in them that you have to think about what you鈥檙e doing right now to be the best version of yourself. It鈥檚 the daily pursuit of excellence that gets the job done. Once you do that, the outcome follows.鈥�

Another key component was recruiting student-athletes who fit Goodman鈥檚 vision.

鈥淚 look for the human being first,鈥� Goodman said. 鈥淗ow they communicate, are they grateful and how much do they love tennis. We work hard every day and if you鈥檙e not into it, you鈥檙e not going to improve. Obviously, we consider talent and certain requirements, but it鈥檚 first and foremost who they are as a person.鈥�

started his career with the Tigers in 2020 and remained on the roster prior to Goodman鈥檚 arrival. He鈥檚 seen the transformation through all phases.

鈥淚t was a long journey to get where we are today, but the way we got here is that we found a team identity,鈥� Saini said. 鈥淵es, we have loads of talent on our team but so does every other top program in the country. The boys are so gritty and fully 鈥榖ought in鈥� to the program. This is a special group of guys. We worked for the success we have today.鈥�

The Tigers broke into the national rankings after defeating No. 13 San Diego last week. It was their first win over the Toreros since rejoining the West Coast Conference in 2013.

Pacific鈥檚 .938 winning percentage ranks top five in the nation. The program hasn鈥檛 lost a match since January and is a perfect 8-0 at home.

鈥淕etting to see five years of how my team has evolved and what we鈥檝e achieved in my final year is very special. Something I will never forget,鈥� Saini said.

Pacific is looking to top its highest-ever finish of third place in the conference since rejoining the league. The last time the men鈥檚 tennis program won a championship was the 2009 Big West Regular Season title.

The Tigers were projected to finish fourth in the West Coast Conference at the start of the season. Their final home match features a No. 42 ranked Pepperdine team coming to the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center .