Giving It His All
9/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 25, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Nothing ever comes easy. Senior Adam Hourani understands that more than most Michigan State student-athletes. The men's tennis co-captain, though, hopes this fall will be a gigantic stepping-stone to fulfill the spring's long list of goals.
Hailing from Lansing Catholic Central, Hourani had been experienced in winning, earning All-State honors all four years of high school. While many incoming college freshmen move away from home, he elected to suit up in the hometown Green and White, playing with teammates from as far away as the Czech Republic.
But the success he was used to did not follow as he changed schools. Hourani's first two years with State brought a combined team record of 15-38 and he compiled only nine doubles wins. Then the 2001-2002 season rolled around.
Playing in 33 singles matches during his sophomore campaign, the general business administration major was in jeopardy of securing a singles position as a junior. One of the best recruiting classes under head coach Gene Orlando had ventured into East Lansing to help guide the Spartans back into Big Ten contention. Hourani's talent, though, quickly provided him with a spot in the doubles rotation, gradually evolving into the best partner any of his teammates could ask for.
"There is more energy on the court (in doubles)," said Hourani. "It's all on one side, three teams going at it at once. That's a lot of energy."
Hourani's impressive play earned him a co-captain honor (with then-junior Jimmy McGuire). His six doubles wins in the fall eclipsed his season best of five he totaled his entire freshman season. With much of the team's emphasis stressed on doubles in the spring, he worked his way up from No.3 to No. 1 with McGuire, and the duo became one of the biggest threats in the conference.
"Doubles is huge," Hourani explained. "If we win two out of three for that first point, we just have to win three out of the six singles positions. Doubles will be really important again this year."
Posting wins against Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana, Hourani completed his junior season with a 17-17 record. Now with a tennis hopper full of experience, the senior enters his final season with State ready for anything that comes his way.
"Hopefully it will be my best season," said Hourani. "My expectations are a lot higher this year than they have been in the past. I hope we finish in the top of the Big Ten and qualify for NCAAs. I don't think Coach Orlando has ever done that, so that would be really great for him and for the whole team."
While the spring dual matches test every element imaginable in the human body, the fall is a time to examine one's abilities, focusing on where the strengths and weaknesses lay. Although the tournaments only count in an individual's record, the formation of a skilled team occurs during the fall where confidence levels can run high, or sometimes low.
"The fall is a time to improve and get ready for the spring season, which is what really matters," described Hourani. "I want to do well in the tournaments and get some confidence going. There are a few key things I need to work on like getting into the net and putting away points. Hopefully, I can do those things in the fall.
"I think it's very important (to start strong) because future success depends on how you start. It will give us some confidence it we start well."
Last year's opening spring record of 7-1 may be hard to match with the likes of Butler, DePaul and Western Michigan near the top of the schedule. The opponents do not get any easier as top-ranked squads such as Notre Dame, Virginia Commonwealth, Arkansas and Tulsa highlight the non-conference lineup.
Michigan State will also work on improving its ninth-place Big Ten finish a year ago, losing to newly-formed rival Penn State in the first round of the Big Ten Championships. The Nittany Lions will open MSU's conference schedule in East Lansing, March 22. But there will be one home date, April 2, every Spartan will circle.
"The match versus Michigan," said Hourani immediately. "That's the main one. They are our biggest rivals. Last year, some guys on the Michigan team said some stuff after the match and it's given us a spark. We just want to beat them even more this year."
While the "doubles specialist" guided the 2001-2002 Spartans to a 14-12 record, the team's first winning record since 1998, Hourani hopes to crack a very potent singles lineup. He went 3-0 in dual matches last spring.
"I definitely want to play more singles this year," said Hourani. "But if it's not best for the team, that's fine. I like playing doubles, but I would like to play singles, too. Hopefully I can improve in the fall and make the lineup in the spring. If not, I will still improve my doubles skills."
After showing significant improvement in the 2002 spring season, goals have been set far above the net by the Spartans. But Hourani understands this could be his final year of competitive tennis, so goals are not the only thing on his mind.
"I really want to enjoy this year," Hourani said. "I have definitely enjoyed my experience here. Getting to meet the coaches and the players, they've become my best friends."
