By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- A certain sound, murmuring and low-pitched at first, rumbles over George Fox's campus every afternoon. As one gets closer, the sound intensifies, splits, into yells and bellows and grunts, all from an assembly of frenzied, lean men in white shorts. This is the men's tennis team, and all their vocal energy has shot them like a merciless forehand smash into the upper echelon of Northwest Conference.

As things stand, the resurgent Bruins are 5-1 overall and 3-1 in conference, good enough for third place in the NWC standings. The Bruins, though, have much loftier goals in mind – and with good reason. Catalyzed by their Big Three – junior Chris Lilley and sophomores Spencer Watanabe and Andrew You – and spiritual guru and sole senior Chace Stalcup, and Bruins have gone from conference afterthoughts to national contenders, staffed by a tireless team tighter-knit than perhaps any other.

What, exactly, is head coach Neal Ninteman's secret? He claims it's just that – he doesn't have one.

"The players are the real stars," says Ninteman as he watches his players finish out an intense doubles drill, relaxed hands on hips. "They deserve every ounce of credit."

Some would see Ninteman's comment as indicative of incredible fortune, the tennis gods bestowing him with a superbly talented team. But Ninteman claims such thinking is backwards.

"When people see our team, they talk about great players, but the reality is that great people make great teams, and great teams make great players," philosophizes Ninteman. "The real story behind our players is our great team; the story behind our great team is our great people."

As evidence, Ninteman gestures to a player on the far court, shirtless and tunnel-visioned as he plays a deft backhand winner down the line. This is Chace Stalcup – not the Bruins' best player, but certainly their rallying point.

"He's the loudest," explains Ninteman. "He's our only senior, the glue of the team, the emotional and spiritual leader."

Stalcup doesn't shy away from such a public role, laden with responsibility. He embraces it wholeheartedly and realizes what it truly is: an opportunity.

"We're changing the whole culture," Stalcup explains, breathing easily between what look like exhausting drills. "When I got here, we practiced when we had to. No more. This year, we've been comfortable really pushing the young guys. Now, we all want to get on the court every chance we get."

Stalcup readily admits that he's not the best player on the court. That honor goes to one of the three players currently smashing returns back-and-forth: Lilley, Watanabe, or You. In fact, Stalcup likes it better that way.

"I love that they don't look up to me for my game but instead for my actions off the court. That means that, on and off the court, we can look to each other."

Lilley understands the changing culture. Like Stalcup, he remembers when complacency ruled, and he's had enough. But serious determination doesn't mean coldness, and therein, Lilley says, lies the secret.

"On the court, it's about fighting, about energy, competition," he says. "But off the court, we're best friends."

Lilley, who usually plays in the #1 matches for the Bruins, is hardly the archetypical, aloof star. He shouts encouragement to a younger player whose shot flies into the net and turns back to talk about his ideas on leadership.

"The young players get excited by the returners," of which the Bruins only have four. "I can set the example, both with my game and how I act. I have my own goals, but the team's come first."

Those goals Lilley holds could very well include an All-American spot. Ninteman believes it's possible, and the dangerous whistle of Lilley's overhead shot gives such a claim credence. But, Lilley has been through it all before. The other two corners of the Big Three – Watanabe and You – are new to the Bruins.

Andy You, particularly, shares that he "had a lot of offers" when he went to transfer, even "some from Division I schools," collegiate tennis' big-time. Why, then, come to George Fox?

You gives his answer behind a mile-wide smile; he appears to never frown while on the court, and it's doubtful he ever does. His answer rings familiar.

"I transferred here because of the team, not the area or the division. It's not about any of that anymore. At big schools, they don't care about you. Here, it's the team. They look out for you."

Watanabe echoes You: "We're successful because we're all connected. Skill doesn't matter. We're only as strong as our weakest link," he says, quoting Ninteman, "and that goes for off-court, too. If anyone's in trouble, we're here to help."

This communalism, in any case, seems to be working, even beyond wins and losses. As Ninteman leaves, headed for a meeting, the players promptly drop their rackets, and the drill ends. The players, though, are far from finished. With a whoop, they voluntarily begin conditioning, laps around the court, every player eager and light.

"No matter where we are," finishes Watanabe, "I want us to be there as a team."

If things continue as they are, that finishing point could be very far, indeed.