In the pregame huddle, the men’s tennis team stands bunched together, arms propped up on each other’s shoulders, listening to the last pre-match words from Head Coach Bill Austin. In unison the team erupts chanting, “One, two, three, Bombers,” as six of the players break from the pack and take their positions on the court, while the others make their way to the sideline.

“Most of the time all 13 or 14 guys are [in the huddle], so Bill just addresses us as a team,” senior co-captain Seth Magnani said. “It’s not, ‘OK, top six come here. Let’s talk about the match coming up.’”

Ithaca is the third largest team in the Empire 8 conference, with 14 players listed on the roster. But with only six singles positions and three pairings for doubles competition, Austin said he sees the team’s depth as a key to putting the best players on the court.

“I’ve always thought that depth is extremely important,” Austin said. “It’s been successful, and it helps keep the development of the team going in the program.”

Because the team has so many players to fill a limited amount of lineup spots, it breeds a healthy competition among the players that pushes everyone to play better from top to bottom.

“There’s a constant competition to stay in that top bubble, so the guys that are lower down have something to earn,” senior co-captain Andrew Dunnick said. “The starting guys have that constant pressure underneath them to keep improving and stay on top of their game.”

Despite the competition to break into the starting lineup, Magnani said the team members have each other’s backs when there’s a match being played.

“We’re all really supportive of each other regardless of who’s playing,” Magnani said. “Everyone shows up to each match to support, whether you’re playing or not, and having Bill as a coach reinforces that.”

Austin said his opportunistic approach to filling his roster promotes growth and development for every athlete.

“If the talent is there and the work ethic is there and the attitude is there, I’m going to keep that kid around,” Austin said. “From No. 1 to No. 14, I appreciate what these guys give to the program each and every day. They work, and they’re dedicated to it, and that’s all I can ask from them.”

Despite the self-evident moral support up and down the board, Dunnick said the team’s willingness to band together in practice encourages growth from the bottom up.

“One of the best things about our team is the willingness to help each other,” Dunnick said. “Everyone is on the team — so the guys that might not be starting are the most willing to get out there and hit with you and do whatever you need to work on to make you better.”

Along with the starting players helping out their teammates further down in the lineup, the ability of the starters to play alongside each other promotes development and helps the team stay balanced.  

“It works better when we have more players because then people can pair up with people that are of equal skill,” Magnani said. “If someone wants to work on something, they have someone that typically has the same issue or wants to work on the same thing.”

It’s this camaraderie that has produced a balanced team that extends well beyond the players that appear in the box score. With the Bombers improving on last season by matching the school record for most wins in a single season, their depth has been a key factor in their continued success.

“It’s all about the people and the kids on the team,” Austin said. “It would be less of a program without everybody that’s been through this thing and put their heart and soul into it.”