This week and last have marked the busiest part of Indian River’s 2009 tennis schedule, with some of their most pivotal matches on the horizon. Both the boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis teams will play for a shot at the conference, with games hanging in the balance.

“Our guys are looking good,” said boys’ head coach Pat Cicala, “but we’ve got some tough matches ahead of us.”

The Indians had Wednesday, Thursday and Friday matches on their schedule this week, with challenging games against Dover and Seaford by the end of next week.

“The winner of the match against Dover next Thursday will have a good shot at the conference championship,” said Cicala this week.

They’ll look to follow up on Friday, May 1, with a better showing against Seaford, who defeated the Indians 3-2 in late March.

“We’d like to get some practices in,” he added, “and, as long as we play well against Caesar Rodney (on March 22, after Coastal Point deadline), we will be looking good.”

The game against CR was pending on Wednesday, due to rainy weather, but whenever the re-match is held, it will likely be another test for the Indians’ team.

“The score is going to be 3-2 or 2-3, however you look at it,” Cicala noted. “It could go either way. It’s definitely not going to be a blowout. It’s just a matter of who comes out wanting it more.”

The boys’ varsity team will be down one of their second-doubles players, due to a vacation, so Matt Grey and Nick Izzo will be holding the position for the patter part of this week. Other than that, the lineup looks to stay the same entering the most hectic weeks for the team.

Seniors Brendon Young, Zack Kmetz and Chris Conover will assume roles at the first-, second- and third-singles positions, respectively, as the first-doubles team of seniors Zach Izzo and Eric Linde hope to represent their team well.

“We’ve been playing well this year,” said Cicala. “We would be 5-0, but we gave up the match to Seaford earlier this season. They’re definitely big contenders. There are four teams out there, including us, that have some great players.”

If practices are any indication of the team’s mental preparedness, Cicala has nothing to worry about.

“I’m amazed watching these kids play today, compared to when they came out at the start of the year,” he said. “They’ve shown me 200 percent improvement, both on the courts and in their classes. They’re devoted to school, too.”

The senior class on the roster has already been accepted to four-year colleges, and the majority rank within the top 20 of their class. They are all members of the National Honor Society, as well. As for the schedule, the back-to-back-to-back games shouldn’t hinder them, according to their coach.

“It’s fine,” Cicala said. “We practice like we play. The guys show no difference between game situations and practice. They don’t talk about it. They just do it. These games are a great preparation for Dover.”

Indian River’s girls’ varsity tennis team has some competition ahead of them, as well.

“The girls didn’t get to play much over the Easter break,” said head coach Karen Oliphant, “and now we have two full weeks coming back.”

Like the boys, the girls were scheduled to round out this week with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday matches against Caesar Rodney, Smyrna and Milford, before turning around next week to play four more of their own. After dropping games earlier this year to Cape Henlopen and Seaford, the girls are shooting for a strong showing as the schedule’s bulk barrels down upon them.

“We’re going with the same lineup,” said Oliphant. “There are not many changes. We hope to win over Smyrna and Milford this week, but we’ve got our eye on the prize against Seaford next Friday. That’s the match that the conference really comes down to.”

A win could possibly nab the conference title for the Lady Indians for the first time in the school’s history from Seaford. Lake Forest and Milford are the only the other conference rivals, and IR’s 5-0 showings against both teams earlier this year was a promising one.

“We did well against both of those teams,” said Oliphant. “Our girls played competitive, and their confidence is up. We just have to maintain.”

The girls’ first-doubles team of Taylor Rosenblit and Samantha Trueting remained undefeated as of Tuesday.

“They’ve proven that they could be competitive at the state level,” said Oliphant. “That team really chases the dream, not the competition. Our girls really want it, and they work well together.”

Ramsey Ruether will be returning to the courts at the first-singles position, while Jocelyn Hazzard and Brittany Baker maintain second- and third-singles. Casey Hull and Alyssa Wlosinski hope to bring some wins to the Indians’ team at second-doubles, too.

They’re also hoping that they won’t have additional weather-reschduled games added.