With the Texas A&M Tennis Club looking to become a six-time winner of the college club tennis Campus Championship, we caught up with Tennis Club President David Hoover to get his take on the secrets behind the club's success, thoughts on the Tennis on Campus program and the difference between club and varsity tennis.

Can you give me a little back story on the history of the A&M Tennis Club?
Our club was founded in 1992, and our practice times are still the same as then. Our dues are $40 for the year.. one of the cheapest in the country. I have heard dues ranging up to $320 per year, which is kinda ridiculous.

Your club is a five-time Campus Champion. What's your secret to success?
We keep practices fun and social, players get to know each other really well. Each year, it really turns into one big group of friends that hang out on and off the court. That keeps people coming back.

Also, we do a pretty good job of mixing experienced players with the new guys. Whether it's for nationals or just normal club stuff, we do a pretty good job of passing along information and guidance from the veterans so that, as years go on, the fun and success continues. At nationals, rarely do the younguns play a key role, but they're there and gain some experience and see how things are done. When it's their turn a year or two down the road, they're ready.

We've been lucky to have some pretty great officers that are committed to club and make it great for everyone else. It's hard work, but our club appreciates it.

Can you give me a profile of one of the players in your club?
Matt Sumrall: president 04-06, on the nationals team for the 5th time this year, volunteer asst. coach for women's varsity team.

In your opinion, what are the benefits of the Tennis on Campus program? How has it helped your leadership/organization skills?
The ToC program is great! Tennis clubs existed before, but everything was much less organized and left entirely up to college students to organize and run. ToC has really helped grow club tennis across the country, made it easier to start a new club and keep an old one going, and provided us with a great, organized tournament schedule.

How do you like the WTT format?
We love WTT. This co-ed format keeps both the guys and the girls coming back.

How do you rate club tennis vs. intramural? How about vs. college varsity?
Our tennis intramurals are tournament brackets with a round played once a week. While they are competitive with us in numbers, there is no social aspect at all. Intramural players just show up, play and leave.

A few of our players in the club have played varsity tennis somewhere, and lots more could have played somewhere but just decided instead to go to TAMU and focus on school. Unlike varsity teams, our club has no meetings, no required practices and definitely no conditioning. All the fun without nearly the time commitment!

Have you ever played your school's varsity team?
Two years ago, the women's varsity team used some of our best players as practice partners. The club has always been very supportive of the varsity tennis programs; we always have a good number out there cheering for the Aggies at home matches. The varsity coaches and players have been very supportive of the club over the years as well, often lending us the use of our varsity tennis courts and even coming to support us at some of our home matches!

Congratulations on your recent win over the Longhorns. How do you feel going into the Campus Championships later this month?
UT has always been a great rival for our tennis club and matches don't get much closer than our final at the Texas Sectionals! The Campus Championships are getting bigger and tougher each year so I'm sure there will be several great teams this year, but A&M is ready to go and give it our all!