Vance Davis knows what its like to reach a goal. The junior transfer from Southeastern Oklahoma State has achieved one of his major goals – playing at a Division I school – earlier this year. Staff Reporter Richard Morse got a chance to sit down with him earlier this week to discuss his goal setting, keeping balance in his life and living more than 600 miles from home.

Why did you decide to transfer to Eastern?

I played there for one year, and it felt like I wasn’t really getting the hands on approach with teaching tennis that I wanted. So it really just wasn’t a good fit. Actually, I got signed by one coach, and then he decided to quit after I had been signed. So that was kind of a hard transition. The new coach wasn’t exactly what I had been hoping for. After that first year, things didn’t quite work out like I wanted, so I took a year off (from tennis), stayed at that school because I do choir. I stayed there for that reason. But I really didn’t know what I was going to do with tennis. The summer after my second year of college, I decided if I’m going to do this, I better start practicing again and go (Division I). That was my goal, after two years I wanted to go (Division I). I heard good things about the coach here, because he is from Oklahoma, so I sent him and e-mail, we started talking and it seemed like a good fit.

How do you balance choir and everything else?

Ever since I was in high school I’ve been in tennis and choir at the same time. So it has always been a struggle for me. I definitely have to balance it out with performances and practices. I was on scholarship at my old school (tennis and choir) and here (tennis) as well. So I have to find my loyalties and say OK, I’m going to miss my practice and go to this. I’ve had to really sit down and talk with the choir director here, Richard Rossi. He’s amazing. he really understands that right now my priority lies with tennis. And talking with (Eastern head coach John) Blackburn, he has been great as well. As long as I give them a heads-up, things work out pretty well.

Who has been influential in your tennis career?

The most influential person in my tennis career has been my dad. He never pushed me to play tennis, he’s never pushed me to do anything, but he’s always been there 100 percent whenever I did choose to do something. I started playing tennis late in my ninth grade year, about a month before the season started. But my dad was there 100 percent, he told me I should get some tennis lessons. So I went every single day of the week, it started out Monday, Wednesday, Friday was the beginner group, and Tuesday, Thursday was the advanced group, and I went every single day. And I made varsity in a month. He’s always been there for me; he’s the only person that really understands everything about my tennis game. I call him before matches, after matches, he’s basically been a really good mental coach for me. Regardless of what my other coaches say, he always knows the right thing to say to me.

Can you talk about your first Eastern match?

My first match at EIU was an amazing experience. I played my first year at Southeastern, and I didn’t really get that much play. I only played maybe one match in the season against other schools. It was a big thing because I had taken that year off, and just being at a tennis match again. And being able to go in and actually play, it was kind of surreal, because I felt like it was a lifetime ago that I was playing tennis. By being able to go out there and play I felt like, “Wow, okay, I’m playing at a Division I school.”

What’s adjustments have you had to make in moving?

One of the biggest things is the distance. Living 653 miles away from home is kind of a big change, since I am not able to go home whenever I want to. But it’s made me a better person. The biggest change would be the level of play, its much higher here than it was at Southeastern. There is so much talent on the team, you have to step it up every day in practice or otherwise you’ll fall behind. The level of play here is just at a totally different level.

What do you miss about Oklahoma?

The tornadoes. I think I just miss my family and friends. It doesn’t really matter what the place is, as long as you have people that care about you. I’ve met some really great friends here, but its nothing like back home in Oklahoma.

What are your post college plans?

They’re up in the air right now. I know I want to teach private lessons. I want to own a tennis center, that’s my whole goal, with my business-finance major. Just to start working with (the U.S. Tennis Association) teaching kids, getting my certification.

Quick Hits

Cereal: Muffin tops

Sports team: Thunder

Movie: What dreams may come

Color: Blue

Cartoon character: Cat-dog

Sport besides tennis: Volleyball

Superhero: Iceman

Fruit snack:Pineapple

Richard Morse can be reached at 581-7944 or at [email protected].