McMurtrey’s transition to singles ‘seamless’
Valparaiso junior emerges in No. 1 singles after success at doubles last season
Calvin McMurtrey seemed the heir apparent to Valparaiso’s open No. 1 singles position all along.
McMurtrey and No. 1 doubles partner Will Behrend went unbeaten in Duneland Athletic Conference matches last season while finishing 14-4 overall.
Following a bevy of challenge matches over the summer among McMu rtrey, Behrend and Spencer Ross, McMurtrey emerged to succeed Evan Cecchini, who moved to Pennsylvania with his parents, Dave and Tammy, former Valparaiso University coaches now at Bucknell.
With McMurtrey’s development at No. 1 singles, the Vikings seemed to have weathered the loss of their top player.
“Moving from doubles to singles was very tough transitionwise,” said McMurtrey, a junior. “Singles requires a lot of energy, and you have to find it in yourself to go out there every day and run really hard to try and get to every shot you can.
“I definitely feel like I’ve transitioned pretty darn well, and the improvement I’ve made has been really solid. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s definitely paid off.”
Valparaiso coach Tim Shideler likes the way McMurtrey has handled the transition.
“It’s really been a pretty seamless one,” Shideler said. “He’s a really talented player who can really do anything. The main adjustment for him, I’d say, has been the length of points. In doubles, you might have one or two shots, and then put the setup ball away.”
McMurtrey experienced some growing pains in his first few singles matches but is now 7-8 overall.
“The hardest thing was to grind every point out, especially at the beginning of the season,” he said. “It’s a situation where you just have to go for every point that you can. I’m pretty consistent, and I’m really good when I’m able to control the point in my favor. When I can get ahead of the other person, that’s when I really shine.”
While Shideler believes there are always plenty of ways to improve, he likes what he’s been seeing from McMurtrey.
“He’s a very consistent player,” Shideler said. “He can handle or generate pace if he needs to. He can come to the net if he needs to too. He has great anticipation and can see the point right before it happens.
“He doesn’t look like your stereotypical bang-the-ball player, but he still has all the tools to succeed.”
McMurtrey has proved successful in other endeavors he pursues.
He’s a member of Valparaiso’s band and has been involved in band since the sixth grade, but he has been interested in music even longer.
“I play the saxophone, and it’s just really fun for me,” McMurtrey said. “It’s a good way to kind of let loose a little bit.”
Carrying a 4.2 GPA while taking many Advanced Placement classes, McMurtrey has an interest in medicine but is unsure about the career path he’ll take.
“I have some thoughts about medicine,” he said. “It’s something that’s interesting to me, and it helps people out.”