The Sacramento State 2002-03 men’s tennis team freshmen are a European grab-bag of nationalities, as well as personalities. Anders Albertsen, Jakub Sliva, Lewis Van Splunteren and Julian Chatelan all hail from across the Atlantic Ocean. Although their backgrounds are wildly different, they are united by a single passion — tennis.

As the men’s tennis team puts the finishing touches on the 2002-03 tennis season — the Hornets clenched their third-consecutive Big Sky Championship by beating Idaho State University 4-2 — head coach Sherif Zaher reflects back on his own career as an international tennis player.

Zaher feels the trials and tribulations that his players are going through, having moved to the United States seven years ago from Egypt.

Zaher played his final two years of college tennis at Sac State after transferring from the University of Georgia. At 23 years old, Zaher knows many of the challenges that the freshmen face.

“It’s tough,” Zaher said. “I know how it feels to be away, especially during the first year you’re separated from your family and friends in a different environment, a different culture. It’s tough sometimes, and it takes a lot of support — and making sure these guys know it’s just a matter of time and they’ll get used to it.”

Albertsen, a native of Denmark, has studied English since the fifth grade.

His hometown, Copenhagen, is the largest city in Denmark, with a population of more than one million — although there are similarities between Sacramento and Denmark, there are marked differences as well.

“Denmark is surrounded by coast and we’ve got some islands,” Albertsen said. “There are around six million people. It seems the same (as Sacramento) but there’s a different attitude.

“In my town we’re more centralized; there’s a lot of buses and trains — we just got a metro a few years ago. There’s a lot of biking, too.

“People are happy though, just like here in the United States.” Sliva, from Bohumin in the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovokia) was surprised at how greenery flourishes in Sacramento, which is internationally renowned for its lush foliage.

Conversely, the Czech Republic suffers from numerous environmental problems, ranging from pollution of air and water to severe acid rain.

“It’s a small country in the middle of Europe. It was a communist country; they’re turning into a democracy right now,” Sliva said. “It was quite a challenge coming to the United States, everything was very different. Sacramento is a much nicer city than our city. There are many factories there — nature was devastated.”

Sliva, who has played tennis since the tender age of six, fosters an intensely competitive and intense work ethic.

“I think it’s the desire to win that’s the most important thing to compete in tennis,” Sliva said. “I don’t have any time for hobbies.”

Van Splunteren, a native of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, was born to an American mother — he was taught two languages, English and Dutch, from the age of four. The depth of his education is obvious: He speaks perfect English.

“I started playing tennis when I was eight years old,” Van Splunteren said. “My mom just signed me up for tennis, she didn’t ask me. I played baseball and tennis at the same time until I was 12 and then I had to choose one, because they were taking up too much time, so then I chose tennis.

“Tennis is always different — one day it’s as easy as breathing. Another day it’s seems like it’s impossible to play the ball. It’s all mental. I’m discovering that right now. Everyone can hit the ball, but not everyone can use their mind in the right way.”

Tennis, however, isn’t Van Splunteren’s only pursuit. In his spare time, the Dutchman has an active interest in computers.

“I like to surf the Internet and chat with my friends,” said Van Splunteren, beaming a wide grin. “I’m an Internet addict.”

Out of nine players, the men’s tennis team sports a total of six international players — with more on the horizon. Out of all the incoming talent next season, only one single player is a domestic product. The reason, said Zaher, is simple.

“In Europe you don’t necessarily get athletic scholarships, so all the players that want to play a sport come to the U.S. to make use of their sport,” he said.

The importance of recruiting new, fresh talent is critical to the success of any team. With a full complement of talent this season, Zaher looks to improve on the team further with more long distance recruiting.

“(The freshmen) are critical. It’s good that we get to see the guys grow and develop their game,” Zaher said. “They’re going to be an even more critical part of the team next year.”

The four freshmen played critical parts on the road to this year’s championship, with Sliva, Chatelan and Van Splunteren all picking up wins against the Bengals in the Big Sky Championships.

Chatelan, from Switzerland, who had been injured most of the season, won the decisive doubles game, 8-5, along with Sliva.

The outcome served as the victory game the won the Hornets the title.

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