• Slug: Sports-ASU Tennis, 805 words.
• Photos included

By LOGAN NEWMAN
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State tennis coach Matt Hill’s efforts to reinstate the men’s program didn’t begin with recruits. It didn’t start with scheduling matches.

First, he needed to buy tennis balls.

“Instead of 20 pieces of the puzzle not being put in place, you’ve got every single piece of the puzzle is not connected,” Hill said.

The ASU men’s tennis team was dropped in 2008 due to budget cuts. Last May, the athletic department announced it had raised enough money to reinstate the program. Hill was persuaded to join based on what he called the “unique vision” of Ray Anderson, vice president for university athletes and athletics director at ASU. Anderson sold Hill on a plan for the program that includes more community and alumni involvement.

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