Sports
Ex-Menlo Star Ball Set for First Postseason at Stanford
Palo Alto product to play singles and doubles in Pac-10 tourney before Cardinal hosts NCAA's.
Jamin Ball is accustomed to being on a successful tennis squad.
Last year's MVP at Menlo School, Ball helped the Knights win the National High School All-American Invitational Team Tournament in Newport Beach, as well as their second consecutive Central Coast Section and Northern California titles.
As a Stanford freshman this year, he helped the No. 8-ranked Cardinal (18-5 overall) capture second place in the Pac-10 behind defending national champion USC.
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Often playing at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles, Ball holds an overall record of 9-8. He is 4-1 with doubles partner Alex Clayton.
Ball and the Cardinal take the court today in the Pac-10 Championships in Ojai (Ventura County) at Ojai Valley Tennis Club. Ball faces Doug Mayeda of Oregon in an opening match of the invitational singles tournament at 12:30 p.m.
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Ball is also in the doubles tournament with Clayton. The Cardinal duo faces the No. 3 seed team of Jaak Poldma and J.T. Sundling of USC on Friday at 9 a.m.
Stanford, which ended the regular season on a 10-match winning streak, also hosts the NCAA Championships May 13-30.
On the eve of his first collegiate postseason, Patch caught up with Ball.
Patch: Tell us about your first-year experience here with the team.
Jamin Ball: It's been really good. I've enjoyed it a lot. All the guys on the team are really great guys on and off the court. It's definitely helped my tennis as well, being surrounded by guys that are at the ability that they're at.
Patch: How's the adjustment been from high school tennis to college tennis?
Ball: Yeah, a lot of times now, even in practice, I'm always fighting just to stay in points because everyone is at such a high level. I'm always trying to prove myself because I'm always right on the edge of getting some playing time, so I've always got that little bit of pressure there. On the whole, it's been incredible in helping my game.
Patch: Are you excited to have the NCAA Championships played here at Stanford this year?
Ball: Yeah, that should be awesome. I remember they had it here four or five years ago, and it was awesome, just the whole atmosphere. It makes a big difference when we can actually fill the whole stadium, as opposed to having 10 other people besides parents and students.
