The University of Virginia men's tennis team already had sealed up Sunday's victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but Rylan Rizza was not ready to call it a day quite yet.
The energetic junior defeated Tech's David North in a grueling 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (6) match to finish off the win for the Cavaliers.
"The team already got the job done," Rizza said. "I was just keeping myself motivated. I just wanted to fight this match out and wanted it more than the other guy."
Rizza is ranked No. 56 nationally in the latest ITA singles rankings, and the duo of Rizza and Nick Meythaler is ranked No. 41 in doubles. Rizza's new singles ranking had fallen 18 spots in the last two weeks.
For the season, Rizza is 9-3 in the No. 2 singles spot and has compiled a 7-3 record in his last ten matches. He also was tied for team lead in wins with 13 victories in the fall season. The Rizza/Meythaler doubles combination is 9-7 in the No. 1 spot this spring.
The California native is one of the most animated players on the team and has been a fan favorite since he arrived in Virginia. Despite pulling out Sunday's win against the unranked North, both Rizza and head coach Brian Boland commented on the need for Rizza to channel his emotions more positively.
"To be honest with you, I probably need to do a better job at getting up with better energy," Rizza said.
Boland echoed Rizza's sentiments.
"Some of the guys today let the frustrations get the best of them," Boland said. "I think Rylan needs to pick it up a bunch in the next week."
In the first ACC match of the season, Rizza stumbled against then-unranked Stephane Rod of Virginia Tech, losing in three sets February 25. The loss ruined Rizza's chances at a second consecutive year with a perfect ACC singles record, as he went 8-0 in league play a season ago.
A month later, his match with North marked the third time this season that Rizza has been taken to three sets by unranked opponents. Rizza is 2-1 in those matches.
Rizza's performance down the stretch will be a major factor as the No. 3 ranked Cavaliers enter the bulk of ACC play. This week, Virginia will travels to North Carolina for key conference dual matches between North Carolina State Friday and Wake Forest Sunday.
Boland said it is crucial for Rizza to maintain his focus as the season wears on.
"He knows how I feel about it," Boland said. "I don't go too many days where I don't mention that I need him to compose and deal with his emotions better."
But the psychological effects on teammates of Rizza's high-energy play and personality cannot be discounted. Focused or unfocused, Rizza's teammates feed off of him constantly, and he has proven throughout his Virginia career that he is capable of getting the job done.
"He definitely gets excited out there," Darrin Cohen said. "The crowds love him. He puts on the show. But he plays hard, and gets the job done. I'm glad I have him on my team."
Read More
Virginia reloads with a new leader, an emphasis on fundamentals and … bowling?
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoThe new leader of Virginia men's basketball, and some players, offered an inside look at offseason plans.
The 2025 MLB Draft: An end and a beginning for Virginia baseball
By Xander Tilock | 3 days agoVirginia upperclassmen and incoming recruits could wind up with MLB organizations.
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | 4 days agoA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
