Daan Maasland is quickly emerging as the men’s tennis team’s budding star. Coming off a 14-6 singles record in spring 2014, the Oregon junior closed out the fall season with four consecutive victories, culminating in a Pacific Northwest Intercollegiate flight one singles title on Nov. 9.
“Daan played a complete match from start to finish,” associate head coach Jonas Piibor said. “It was a great win over a good Husky opponent.”
Maasland defeated Emmett Egger, arguably Washington’s best player, 6-0, 7-5 in the championship match.
Maasland’s win at the PNW Intercollegiate was Oregon’s second singles title of the fall season. He won each of the three victories at the tournament in straight sets and improved his fall singles record to 5-2. Maasland won the same tournament in doubles as a freshman, but this is the first singles tournament victory of his collegiate career.
Humble in regards to his personal feat, Maasland cherishes his team’s accomplishments in its tough Pac-12 matches more than any individual accolade. Maasland recalls the Stanford match from his freshman year, where he clinched Oregon’s first-ever win against the Cardinal.
“We had never beat them before and when they came here we lost in doubles,” said Maasland. “It’s always tough to lose doubles, but we won four singles and it was a great feeling, especially against a good team like Stanford.”
Originally from Geldrop, Netherlands, Maasland came to Oregon to pursue tennis and school concurrently, an opportunity that didn’t existent in his home country. He has since accumulated a 74-20 overall record in singles and doubles and gained Intercollegiate Tennis Association scholar-athlete honors for earning a varsity letter and maintaining a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Maasland spent much of his freshman year competing alongside Alex Rovello in doubles matches. Together they achieved 16 doubles victories, tied for eighth best in school history. Rovello died tragically in a cliff-diving accident shortly after the conclusion of the spring 2013 tennis season.
“He still has his own place in the locker room and every time I see it I remember him,” Maasland said. “We do our best to remember him and play our best for him as well.”
The loss of his teammate and friend has motivated Maasland ever since.
“We moved on, kind of,” Maasland said. “It definitely impacted me and a lot of guys who were on the team then. I try everything I can to win for the university and for his parents.”
A business administration major, Maasland plans to pursue a master’s degree either in the United States or back home in Holland upon graduation. His alternative is playing on the professional tour, which he acknowledges is a realistic possibility; but he realizes he would have to choose one or the other.
“I could definitely play [professionally] but if I make that decision it takes a lot of time,” Maasland said. “If I try it when I’m done studying I should really invest in it; it doesn’t make sense to try it for half a year or so.”
For the upcoming spring season, Maasland’s goal is to win 75 percent of his matches and reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA championship. The team made it to the first round of the national tournament last year, but lost in the first round.
Maasland and the men’s tennis team open their spring season at home against Seattle University on Jan. 10.
Follow Kenny Jacoby on Twitter @kennyjacoby