BLESSING IN DISGUISE
6/3/2020 1:37:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Extra Year Will Give Dickerson Chance to Finish Master’s Degree
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
In his first year at Baylor, Duke grad transfer Ryan Dickerson "embraced the process" and became a "total pro on and off the court."
But, after the 2019-20 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn't feel like the time was right for him to start his professional tennis career and go out on his own. That's why he made the decision to come "Back to Baylor" when the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility for spring sports' athletes.
"It's an unfortunate event, but it's a blessing in disguise a little bit, because I have this opportunity again to keep improving under coach (Brian) Boland," said Dickerson, an Academic All-District pick who is working on a master's degree in sports pedagogy. "I feel like there's a lot to gain from this year. It just doesn't feel like it's the right time, honestly (to move on). I've learned so much in a year's time, and I feel like I still have a lot to learn and improve."
Boland said Dickerson continued to show steady improvement with each match, compiling a 15-7 singles mark and 17-6 doubles record for a 13-3 Baylor team that was 12th in the final USTA national rankings. After spending four years at Duke, including a redshirt season in 2018-19, he had career-high ITA rankings of No. 23 in doubles (with Matias Soto) and 111th in singles.
"Ryan loves the game as much as anyone I've ever worked with," Boland said. "He clinched the match for us at home against Wake Forest, and that was a great moment for him, because he has put so much time into his game and he's just a real student of the game. He really embraces the process. We really enjoyed having Ryan as a leader, and we're fortunate that he's going to come back and certainly play an instrumental role in next year's success."
After playing predominantly at the Nos. 5 and 6 spots at Duke, with a three-year record of 53-28, Dickerson had to move up a notch or two with the Bears and went 9-3 in dual matches while splitting time at Nos. 3 and 4.
"I learned a lot from the experience (at Duke), but Coach Boland really made it feel like home for me, and it really resonated with what I wanted to do with my tennis," said Dickerson, a Marlton, N.J., native who was the South Jersey Player of the Year and first-team all-state as a senior at Moorestown High School. "Coach Boland put me in situations where I had an opportunity to maximize myself and reach success. It's been a really good first year."
Dickerson's ground strokes have always been a strength, but he improved on his serve and return of serve this season.
"That's kind of where the game is going – more first-strike tennis. Those are the two most important shots," he said. "In some shape or form, I would say I focused most of my practices on serve, return and first ball, which are the first two to four shots of the game. I feel like that's where my game took off the most was getting free points off my serve and making more returns."
An added point of emphasis for Dickerson was being a "total pro everywhere," he said, encompassing the classroom, the weight room and nutrition. "That's where I made the most strides."
Ultimately, when he got the chance to return to Baylor for a sixth year, Dickerson said it was "almost like a non-decision."
"I called my dad right after the meeting about COVID-19 canceling our season and basically how we had another year of eligibility," Dickerson said. "And he said, 'You've got to go back.' I was thinking the same thing: I've got to go back. I feel like there's so much more I can get from this team and the coaching staff. And I feel like I can develop more before I try to play professionally. It was the perfect timing, too, to go back and keep growing with my game and just in general."
Before the NCAA shutdown, his plan was to come back in the fall to finish up his master's and then branch out on his own. This way, he has the "best of both worlds," being able to spread out his remaining classes over the two semesters and play one more year of collegiate tennis.
"After this year, I think I'll be ready for sure," he said.
As part of his master's degree plan, Dickerson was teaching racquetball and tennis courses through Baylor's Lifetime Fitness program when classes had to finish online this spring.
"That was tough. I had to give them assignments, because I can't assume they have racquetball rackets," he said. "I had to get creative with it, for sure. I would have them watch videos and practice shadowing strokes in front of mirrors using like paper towels or something. I enjoy it, though. It's a lot of fun."
Dickerson's own online courses were a good fit, he said, because he could formulate his daily schedule in a way that fit him best.
"I wanted to be able to train all together and have my academics all together," he said. "I could do my academics at the end of the day when it's not sunny out and we could still play tennis. I really liked having that kind of freedom. I was productive, and I didn't feel like I was sacrificing one over the other."
Baylor Bear Insider
In his first year at Baylor, Duke grad transfer Ryan Dickerson "embraced the process" and became a "total pro on and off the court."
But, after the 2019-20 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn't feel like the time was right for him to start his professional tennis career and go out on his own. That's why he made the decision to come "Back to Baylor" when the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility for spring sports' athletes.
"It's an unfortunate event, but it's a blessing in disguise a little bit, because I have this opportunity again to keep improving under coach (Brian) Boland," said Dickerson, an Academic All-District pick who is working on a master's degree in sports pedagogy. "I feel like there's a lot to gain from this year. It just doesn't feel like it's the right time, honestly (to move on). I've learned so much in a year's time, and I feel like I still have a lot to learn and improve."
Boland said Dickerson continued to show steady improvement with each match, compiling a 15-7 singles mark and 17-6 doubles record for a 13-3 Baylor team that was 12th in the final USTA national rankings. After spending four years at Duke, including a redshirt season in 2018-19, he had career-high ITA rankings of No. 23 in doubles (with Matias Soto) and 111th in singles.
"Ryan loves the game as much as anyone I've ever worked with," Boland said. "He clinched the match for us at home against Wake Forest, and that was a great moment for him, because he has put so much time into his game and he's just a real student of the game. He really embraces the process. We really enjoyed having Ryan as a leader, and we're fortunate that he's going to come back and certainly play an instrumental role in next year's success."
After playing predominantly at the Nos. 5 and 6 spots at Duke, with a three-year record of 53-28, Dickerson had to move up a notch or two with the Bears and went 9-3 in dual matches while splitting time at Nos. 3 and 4.
"I learned a lot from the experience (at Duke), but Coach Boland really made it feel like home for me, and it really resonated with what I wanted to do with my tennis," said Dickerson, a Marlton, N.J., native who was the South Jersey Player of the Year and first-team all-state as a senior at Moorestown High School. "Coach Boland put me in situations where I had an opportunity to maximize myself and reach success. It's been a really good first year."
Dickerson's ground strokes have always been a strength, but he improved on his serve and return of serve this season.
"That's kind of where the game is going – more first-strike tennis. Those are the two most important shots," he said. "In some shape or form, I would say I focused most of my practices on serve, return and first ball, which are the first two to four shots of the game. I feel like that's where my game took off the most was getting free points off my serve and making more returns."
An added point of emphasis for Dickerson was being a "total pro everywhere," he said, encompassing the classroom, the weight room and nutrition. "That's where I made the most strides."
Ultimately, when he got the chance to return to Baylor for a sixth year, Dickerson said it was "almost like a non-decision."
"I called my dad right after the meeting about COVID-19 canceling our season and basically how we had another year of eligibility," Dickerson said. "And he said, 'You've got to go back.' I was thinking the same thing: I've got to go back. I feel like there's so much more I can get from this team and the coaching staff. And I feel like I can develop more before I try to play professionally. It was the perfect timing, too, to go back and keep growing with my game and just in general."
Before the NCAA shutdown, his plan was to come back in the fall to finish up his master's and then branch out on his own. This way, he has the "best of both worlds," being able to spread out his remaining classes over the two semesters and play one more year of collegiate tennis.
"After this year, I think I'll be ready for sure," he said.
As part of his master's degree plan, Dickerson was teaching racquetball and tennis courses through Baylor's Lifetime Fitness program when classes had to finish online this spring.
"That was tough. I had to give them assignments, because I can't assume they have racquetball rackets," he said. "I had to get creative with it, for sure. I would have them watch videos and practice shadowing strokes in front of mirrors using like paper towels or something. I enjoy it, though. It's a lot of fun."
Dickerson's own online courses were a good fit, he said, because he could formulate his daily schedule in a way that fit him best.
"I wanted to be able to train all together and have my academics all together," he said. "I could do my academics at the end of the day when it's not sunny out and we could still play tennis. I really liked having that kind of freedom. I was productive, and I didn't feel like I was sacrificing one over the other."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Baylor Tennis (M): Highlights vs. Texas A&M | May 4, 2025
Monday, May 05
Baylor Tennis (M): Highlights vs. Nebraska | May 3, 2025
Saturday, May 03
Punching our ticket 🎟️
Saturday, May 03
Tomorrow. 10 a.m. College Station.
Saturday, May 03
