By Tom Rohrer
Jim Phillips has been here before.
Just a year ago, Phillips was part of The Valley Athletic Club (VAC) Senior Men’s 3.0 tennis team that qualified for the National League Playoffs in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The team finished third in the nation eleven months ago while playing at the Mission Hills Country Club.
A year later, Phillips is making a return trip to the United States Tennis Association National League Playoffs, only this time, his team will be competing in the 3.0 18-and-over division.
Along with higher competition, the tournament will also add another challenge – scorching heat. The tournament location has shifted to the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson, Arizona.
To qualify, teams competed in two singles and three double matches in Portland, Oregon. Eventually, the VAC team took down Courthouse Athletic Club from Salem Ore., winning 3-2.
When the team had clinched the victory by securing their third victory, Phillips was still playing a singles match. With his experience from last year’s qualification, Phillips was able to keep his emotions in check and finish the match, which at that point was meaningless.
“It was similar, but it wasn’t new,” said Phillips of the feeling of qualifying for nationals. “I wanted my teammates to absorb it, enjoy it. Everyone was very happy because this was our goal.”
Instructed by Clayton Harris, the Valley Athletic Club Pro and former All-American player at Pacific Lutheran University, the 3.0 team is a collection of last year’s senior team members and a few new, younger faces.
Along with Phillips, Will Elshoff and Brett Hardcastle are back from the senior team.
Hardcastle was unable to play in nationals last year due to heart complications, and promoting him to the tournament served as a rallying point for the team.
“That was kind of a theme all season long,” said Phillips, the team’s captain. “We all wanted to get Brett to nationals and having something like that to play for can propel you to a new level.”
A fierce competitor, Phillips’ passion for the game and competitive nature is shared by his teammates.
“Everybody wants to win, and they fight really hard,” said Phillips. “These guys can dig down and summon up energy like nobody I’ve seen. It’s amazing.”
“He’s super competitive, and it comes out in the matches,” said David Kuhn, who is in his first year playing USTA tennis. “I think it rubs off on us, and that’s a good thing. We’re all competitive by nature, but it’s a new level and that could be a big reason to our success.”
A varsity tennis player during his time at Lake Oswego High School near Portland, Oregon, Kuhn took a 22 year ‘hiatus’ from the game until last August. He picked the game up again, after his daughter decided to pursue the sport.
“My daughter had been dancing for the last ten years. When she decided no more ballet, she wanted to pick up a sport she could play recreationally and in high school,” said Kuhn, who Phillips refers to as a co-captain of the 3.0 team. “She chose tennis.
Kuhn has been playing at the Valley since last August and after approaching a club pro about playing on a USTA team, he was put in contact with Elshoff.
Now Kuhn will be taking a trip to nationals his first year back playing, an experience he is looking forward to experiencing.
“Throughout history, the greatest teams in any sport don’t always make it to the finals,” said Kuhn, who, prior to playing singles, was Phillips’ doubles partner. “I just want to enjoy being down there with those guys and take it all in. We’ve got a great opportunity here.”
Phillips is planning on distilling his experiences from last year to the team members who haven’t played in a national event.
“One of the things I will highlight is just the high level of competition,” said Phillips. “We’re playing the best in the country, and every player from every team is tough. We have been able to take on some quality opponents so far so we should be acclimated, but you never know until you get there.”
It’s tough to determine the outcome of the team’s trip to Arizona, but it’s certain the team will give it their best effort.
“These guys are great to be around, and they will not take this for granted,” said Phillips. “That’s important, just making sure we use this opportunity to do something special. Chances like this don’t come around too often.”
