Shannon Mayo, File Photo

For senior Benedikt Stronk, he knows exactly when things changed.

It took place when his San Diego State tennis team matched up against Pacific on Feb. 26, when Stronk lost his singles duel with Tiger Jorgen Vestli.

Stronk’s loss – and the team’s ensuing 4-3 defeat – drove him over the edge.

After the match, he threw down his tennis racket in frustration and stalked off the court, furious.

That was when head coach Gene Carswell interfered.

That was when Stronk straightened out.

“I had some problems in the beginning of the season,” said Stronk, who was suspended for a week because of the outburst. “I got emotional and I got angry very fast with spectators, opponents, coaches, whatever. Everything made me mad.”

But, somehow, the time off made him a better player.

Stronk’s record (3-0 in singles, 2-1 in doubles) since then – with the only loss coming in a doubles match against North Carolina’s fourth-ranked tandem in the country – is proof that Stronk’s mind has cleared up on the court.

“Once he came back, he was very determined,” said Carswell, whose team faces Princeton 1:30 p.m. today at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, before facing No. 35 USD on Saturday. “He didn’t come back begrudgingly. He came back and he wanted to be back. I think it gave him time to put things into perspective.

“I think he grew from that experience.”

Stronk completely agrees.

“(I’ve) changed a lot now,” Stronk said. “I’m a lot more relaxed, and I try to be more calm on the court. I think, otherwise, it won’t work. If you are not relaxed on the court, you cannot play to your full potential ? You have these big ups and big downs

“So, I’ve tried to change that and it’s getting much better.”

Stronk said that he has realized it is important to be focused, but it’s more crucial to be composed.

“I just realized I cannot continue like this,” Stronk said. “Because if you see all the professionals on the tour, everybody’s so relaxed. I mean, if you lose, it’s a tennis match and nothing more.

“And I made it so important and I wanted to win all the matches so badly that I put too much pressure on myself.”

And with Stronk taking the pressure off himself, the Aztecs (5-5) are starting to put it on their opponents. Just in the nick of time.

“(Tuesday’s practice) was the most intense practice of all this year,” Stronk said. “I think the (coaches and players) realize that we need to do more and work harder. Otherwise, the season can be done pretty soon. Everybody has to show now that we want to be back.

“We have to show now for ourselves and to all the people that we are back.”