Nolan Polley's 500-plus mile transition from Lexington, Ky. to Madison last summer boiled down to loyalty and trust for one person: first-year Badger tennis coach Greg Van Emburgh.
A former associate head coach at the University of Kentucky, Emburgh took over the UW program in summer 2005, replacing Pat Klingelhoets, who resigned after 23 years with the university. Only months later, Polley decided to begin his sophomore campaign with the Badgers, and more importantly, with the man that recruited him.
'I decided on Kentucky because of him [Emburgh], and when he got the job up here, I transferred because he was up here now,' said Polley, a two-time Kentucky high school singles state champion. 'He's obviously a really good coach. He works us really hard and he's a really good guy too. I just really enjoy playing tennis for him.'
Badger tennis fans have enjoyed his decision as well.
Polley won the Big Ten Conference Singles Championship this past Monday with a come-from-behind victory (6-4, 1-6, 6-1) over 13th-seed Dima Ishtuganov of Indiana.
'I think that would be my biggest accomplishment so far in tennis,' said Polley.
Just when UW sophomore Jeremy Sonkin, who played No. 2 singles behind senior Alex Kasarov a year ago, was ready to take over in the Badger tennis spotlight, Polley emerged to make the competition for the No. 1 position more interesting.
'He'll probably play number one this year,' Polley said. 'He's one of the team leaders and I've tried to play as good as he's been playing, because obviously he's playing the best on the team.'
While the two will compete for the top spot when the spring season begins in January, their relationship off the court remains solid.
'He [Sonkin] is probably one of my good friends on the team,' said Polley, who led the Badgers in singles wins during the fall season. 'There's always a sense of competition. It's not so much that either of us wants to beat the other person, but more to make each other better.'
The Badgers will need both players to play well this season if they hope to improve their 10th place finish in the Big Ten from a year ago. Polley has accordingly set lofty goals for his team and expects even more from himself as an individual.
'My goal for the team is to make the NCAA tournament,' Polley said. 'Individually, I'd like to at some point make the individual NCAA tournament, in singles or doubles. That would be a cool thing.'
But for now, Polley continues to grow accustomed to his new city and build on the relationships he established in his first semester on campus.
'I love Madison,' said Polley, who plans to major in mechanical engineering. 'Madison is a really fun town and a really good school. I've enjoyed every minute I've been up here.'
