University of San Francisco Athletics

Of all the tough road matches USF's men's tennis team has played over the years, perhaps none was more rewarding than the one the Dons played recently against inmates housed in San Quentin State Prison.
 
For the last five years, men's tennis players from USF have ventured inside the walls of one of the nation's most notorious prisons to play a friendly match with inmates who are a part San Quentin's Inside Tennis Team, which is comprised of approximately 20 prisoners. The relationship was forged in 2011 when Leslie Lava, a municipal bond attorney in Sausalito who also heads up the tennis program at San Quentin, reached out to Dons' tennis coach Pablo Pires de Almeida and invited the team to take part in this unique program.
 
Pires de Almeida, a 2005 USF graduate who was raised in nearby San Anselmo, saw the program as a tremendous learning opportunity for his players.
 
"The San Quentin community service is a life changing experience for the members of our team," said Pires de Almeida. "Each team member that enters the prison and plays with the inmates is changed for the better because they see how tennis can inspire and be a life changing sport. Many of our guys continue to want to go back and play with the inmates because they are so thankful and eager to learn about tennis. I will continue to bring in the team each semester because of the value this brings to the inmates and the members of the team."
 
The matches are conducted on one court and played to four games. Although the Dons have never dropped a match, the contests are more competitive each and every year. The prisoners also have a decided home court advantage.
 
"We are undefeated in our five years and 10 times of entering the prison but the guys sometimes get tight considering the environment is intimidating and some of their players are really good," said Pires de Almeida.
 
The unique environment and brief comradery between the USF players and inmates provides for limitless learning opportunities.
 
"The wreck yard is a tough place and the guys really get to see the real deal when it comes to prison. All the tennis playing inmates are really nice and thankful that we are there," said Pires de Almeida. "The guys that are not playing get to talk with them and hang out on the side of the court while the inmates tell them about their experience and ask the guys about tennis and college."
 
Junior Nils Skajaa was one of the players who accompanied the Dons on their latest visit to San Quentin.
 
"It's a very eye opening experience because you have this impression of the place through movies and other media," said Skaaja. "It was scary at first especially when we went through the gates and into the yard. But when I played tennis with these people who are incarcerated, I realized they are human and have opinions and live lives within the walls.
 
"After a while you become less fearful of the place. In the end it makes you ponder your life more and makes you think about how one bad decision can change your life forever. It definitely gives you perspective on your own life."
 
Four Pillars of Success
The University of San Francisco is committed to excellence in athletics as part of a larger commitment to educating students in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. USF Athletics is built upon Four Pillars of Success that aim to develop young men and women in this tradition: Excel in the Classroom; Win at the Highest Level of Competition; Engage in the Community; and Become Leaders in the World.

The entire department, including coaches, training staff, facilities and equipment personnel and administrators, work to support student-athlete achievement in each of the Four Pillars, develop leaders and support the principles of the West Coast Conference and the NCAA.

In the Jesuit Catholic tradition, USF student-athletes, coaches and staff members are actively involved in various community engagement projects throughout the year. Through partnerships with the San Francisco RBI Program and Harper for Kids, USF student-athletes volunteered their time in mentoring children throughout San Francisco during the course of the year on the importance of education, goal setting and physical fitness. Student-athletes and staff serve warm meals to the less fortunate of San Francisco at St. Vicent de Paul's Multi-Service Center and St. Anthony's Dining Room. USF Athletics also takes an active role in fighting cancer through various activities during the course of the year. USF Athletics, in partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco, conducts a year-end clothes drive, where student-athletes donate previously worn practice gear and team apparel.