No. 48 Cal will return to Hellman Tennis Complex this weekend for a three-match home stand, hosting Boston College and Saint Mary’s on Friday before a key conference matchup against No. 36 SMU on Sunday.
Cal enters the weekend looking to build momentum after splitting last week’s matches. The Bears fell 4-1 to No. 3 Virginia before bouncing back with a dominant 4-0 sweep over Virginia Tech.
For junior Alex Aney, maintaining momentum comes down to staying focused on the present.
“I think just staying in the present, enjoying every match, not thinking about what happened before and not thinking about what’s happening in the future,” Aney said. “Really enjoying the moment, trusting my game and learning more with every match. Enjoying the process is a big part of success in the long term.”
That mindset reflects what the team has learned about itself in recent weeks. The Bears have focused heavily on energy and chemistry as they continue to grow throughout the season.
Cal has had the whole week to prepare to bring that energy and hone in on fundamentals ahead of this weekend’s important matches.
“I think the team’s learned a lot about itself — how we can compete better and how important our energy is for team chemistry,” Aney said. “We all know that we’re capable of playing great tennis and beating everyone, but the way we compete and the energy we bring are critical to performing on a day-to-day basis.”
Friday’s schedule includes a conference matchup against Boston College — which currently sits at 0-4 in conference play — as well as a meeting with Saint Mary’s, which will be the second matchup between the Bears and Gaels this season.
The weekend will culminate Sunday against No. 36 SMU, one of the stronger ACC teams. The Mustangs hold a 13-6 overall record and a 3-1 conference record, highlighted by wins over North Carolina and Duke.
SMU also features one of the nation’s top players. Senior Trevor Svajda — currently ranked No. 2 in the country in singles — leads the Mustangs’ lineup and presents a marquee matchup in Berkeley.
As conference play continues, the team’s focus is not solely on rankings or results, but on continuous improvement.
“The most important thing that we can do is step on court every day with the best attitude and keep learning from every match,” Aney said. “As much as we want to win, we can’t ask ourselves to control something that’s out of our control. The most important thing we can do is be the best version of ourselves.”
This weekend’s matches are the final three matches of the Bears’ five-match homestand. The home crowd in Berkeley could play a pivotal role in maintaining energy against tough opponents.
When spectators watch the Bears compete, Aney hopes they notice the team’s resilience and competitiveness.
“I want them to see a whole team of warriors,” Aney said. “Guys who choose to compete and choose to love adversity and the challenge every match holds.”
With three matches scheduled at Hellman Tennis Complex this weekend, Cal fans will have multiple chances to watch the Bears in action at home.
Cal begins the weekend on Friday at 11 a.m. before playing Saint Mary’s at 3 p.m. the same day. The Bears will close out the weekend with a noon matchup against SMU on Sunday.
“We’re a fun team,” Aney said. “We’ll fight our asses off, we’ll compete hard, we’ll have fun and show energy.”