by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
After a long offseason, sophomore Max Jones is ready to get back on the tennis court.
"I'm really excited," Jones said. "I took pretty much the last three months off, and it's really got my appetite back for this year."
Jones is coming into the season ranked nationally for the first time in his career. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranked Jones No. 90 in the country.
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He's thrilled about what he can accomplish but is more focused on seeing what he and the rest of the Lobos can do together, he said.
"We got a really good team this year," Jones said. "We're a lot stronger than last year. We're more experienced. I'm really looking forward to getting out there."
UNM head coach Alan Dils said he's excited to see what Jones can do in 2006 after an impressive sophomore season.
"I think he's going to have a good year," Dils said. "Last year, he played No. 1 almost the entire year. He had to face a really tough lineup day in and day out. He got a lot of experience doing that, and he had a lot of good wins last year."
In 2005, Jones posted 22 singles wins, tying for a team high. He was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team and posted a 3-3 record against ranked opponents.
In doubles competition, Jones went 17-10, including 14-3 with regular doubles teammate Kamil Pajkowski.
In his freshman season, he was named MWC Freshman of the Year - the first Lobo to earn the award.
Despite all that early success, Jones hasn't been a perfect tennis player, Dils said. In a few matches, Dils moved then-freshman Johnny Parkes into the No. 1 spot.
However, Jones should be the team's top singles player most of the year, and those moves last season should only help him, Dils said.
"I think competition at every spot is good," he said. "You don't just get comfortable where you're at. There's always someone there pushing you."
Jones said he plans on using the times he was moved down to No. 2 to push him this season.
"It gives me so much more motivation, because I have to compete for my place," Jones said. "Sometimes I don't mind it, because it will give me a break from week in week out playing really tough players. But it definitely helps me out. I like that competition."
Jones has a couple more seasons to improve on the success that he has had. He has set high standards for himself and wants to achieve them this year.
"I know I'm good enough to become an All-American," Jones said. "That's my main goal. That's really where I want to be."
