Oct. 15, 2008

Having gone 10-1 so far this season for the Tigers, what has that meant to you and what have you done in order to win your matches?

You work so hard in practice and in conditioning. Winning and good results are just rewards for everything you do on-and-off the court. All the efforts are put together to get the results.

What has it been like being a freshman on the Memphis men's tennis team?

"I love it. I like all the guys and both coaches. Everyone's attitude and work ethic and just the atmosphere of the whole program has been as good as I could imagine."

What are some of the differences between competing in high school to playing collegiate tennis?

"The level without a question is way higher. Therefore responsibility off and on the court increases. Always doing what you have to do, practicing hard, having a good attitude. Everything counts. Every little thing that you can do is important."

What has the competition level been like you have face in the fall tournament?

"Everyone in all of these tournaments is a good player. They wouldn't be there if they weren't good tennis players. I feel like we are prepared for these fall tournaments. I can see it in our workouts because it is so competitive and everyone is doing the best that they can."

In your last match you were 10-0 and faced Marcos Chiaretti from North Florida who was also 10-0 going in the match. What was that match like?

"I actually had no idea at the time of the match that he was undefeated. I knew I hadn't lost so far, but I didn't know my record at the time. I knew I had been having some success. The guy I played was a great player. It was both of our fifth matches of the tournament. He had it, he was ready to play. I had just finished a two hour and fifteen minute two set match, which is pretty long for a two set match. I was off of the court for maybe ten minutes at a maximum."

What do you enjoy doing off of the tennis court?

"School is obviously very important to me. I enjoy a lot of my classes and I know a lot of good friends from high school. I am also in the Emerging Leaders Program. The program is really community service based. We have a lot of interactions with each other and we also help out in the community."

What is in the future for K.C. Griffin?

"Obviously I want to get my degree in time. I think I might possibly pursue a master's in business, I am not positive yet. Work for a big banking or financial corporation. I have no idea where I want to live yet."

What are some of the things you have learned from the coaching staff and some of the older players in terms of tennis and life in general?

"At the college level, and especially as a student athlete, responsibility couldn't be more important. There are so many things that go into being a student-athlete. Our tennis team, the team aspect is most important. Yes you have your individual results and your team doesn't help you win your match, but you have to learn responsibility for your team. Everything you do is for the team."

Did you play any other sports other than tennis in high school?

"I played golf and ultimate Frisbee all four years of high school. I actually just had a meeting with my counselor and I was explaining to her that I used to do a little bit of a lot of things and now I do a lot of just a little amount of things."

What are some of your goals for this season for the tennis program and for yourself?

"I think you said it best when you said `for the tennis program.' I am still almost oblivious to what is out there in college tennis. I just know our team, from the first week, I can't believe how much closer we are as people. How much we have improved as players. I guess as a goal for the team, it just be getting our team on the map. Competing and winning on a high level. I think we are 100 percent capable of winning on a high level. It just takes one breakthrough and all the hard work of each individual on the team will pay off."

What are some of the fun things you like to do outside of tennis and school?

"I like to hang out with friends and spend time with the team. My roommate David Henry, who is the other freshman on the team, we are almost best friends already. I think Mark (Finnegan) explained it best when he said we know each other, inside, outside and backwards. It is really good. I like him a lot.

Do you and David (Henry) come from similar backgrounds?

"Not that much. I live in Millington, which is barely in Memphis. He lives on a mountain, Signal Mountain, in Chattanooga. He has five sisters and I wasn't the only child but I lived alone for most of my time at home. I had older siblings, but they were already out of the house. We definitely come from different background and it is kind of scary how similar we are."