Tasic develops as a leader for IU

Match time against Minnesota was approaching. The final note of the national anthem had just been sung, and the team was gathering for their pre-match huddle.

But something was missing. Senior Dimitrije Tasic had run inside for a pair of pants before match time. The 13 other members of the team seemed confused.

Who would lead?

That was not a question at the beginning of the season, when there was only one possible answer.

Tasic is the only senior on the men’s tennis team this year. He’s also the only player with more than two years of Division I experience. For IU Coach Randy Bloemendaal, there was only one option.

“If it had been two or three people, he wouldn’t have grown this much, so I looked at it as an opportunity,” Bloemendaal said. “He’s really benefited from being a part of that opportunity.”

Tasic’s journey to leadership has not been an easy one. His first three years at IU, Tasic was passive and reluctant.

“It made me more accountable for my words, more credible for my words and it made me feel that I need to step up and be someone who others can follow,” Tasic said. “It made me more able to make certain decisions which I previously would not have been able to do.”

The process of becoming a player others could follow was challenging. Both Tasic and Bloemendaal acknowledged the difficulty that leading a team of 14 can be for one person and he said that challenge has changed him both on and off the court.

“I think it’s given him a ton of confidence,” Bloemendaal said. “I think he had this vision of wanting to do this. I don’t think he fully understood what it all meant. But you have to want to do that, you have to want to be a good leader. He hasn’t backed away, and it hasn’t been easy for him.”

Tasic has not changed entirely. His style of leadership is still one of affability and friendliness.

“Sometimes the team can see something that is going on,” Tasic said. “They recognize what problems the team has and give me suggestions on what we can do better.”

Tasic said being a leader for IU has had a substantial effect on his tennis game as well. On the court this season, Tasic has split time at No. 3 and No. 4 singles and No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.

“At the end of the day it looks more aggressive,” Bloemendaal said. “Most of the changes were made before I stepped on the court, but it definitely looks more aggressive, more determined and more disciplined.”

When asked to reflect on his time at IU, Tasic talked about wins. He helped IU to two of its five NCAA tournament appearances since 1997. As a sophomore he was a part of the most successful team in IU men’s tennis history.

That team won a school-record 24 matches and won the second NCAA Tournament match in school history against Louisville. The clinching point in that match came from Tasic, who won 6-4, 7-6 at No. 6 singles.

Tasic didn’t want to talk about that match, though. He said that individual wins are meaningless.

His favorite moments are not triumphant, heroic or gallant, he said.

“I can’t highlight a single moment,” Tasic said. “Every day was a challenge, but at the end of each day I could say I made progress, and that’s what was most significant about being a part of this program.”

Tasic said he will continue to try and improve every day leading up to his final home match Sunday against Penn State. He said he is still in disbelief that his time in Bloomington will soon end.

“I just can’t believe it. It went too fast,” Tasic said. “I’ll try like I do every match and try to bring a win from my court to our team. That’s the best I can do.”?