The fall season’s tennis matches provided a general view of what team improvements need to be made, but also highlighted what individuals need to work on for the spring.  The head men’s tennis coach Estevam Strecker is in his second coaching year, and the head women’s tennis coach Kendall Brooks is in her third year. 

MEN’S TENNIS

While the 11-man roster is largely comprised of upperclassmen, some missed matches last year due to injuries, and some are transfer students new to the team.

Standouts in single play at the UTSA/ITA Regional Tournament were junior Jared Fellows and sophomore Ricardo Pineda. 

“This fall I made a commitment that I was going to try as many different pairings as I could possibly come up with,” Strecker says.

Likely pairings for spring are junior Charlie Shin and senior Maximo Agoglia; sophomore Sotiris Tsioumas and freshman Chase Morehouse; and Pineda and senior Felix Bake who will try to defend or beat their second place regional ranking.

“I feel this year I can pick three names out of a hat to play four, five and six, and the quality of the team will be no different.”

Spring season goals include: winning the Heartland Conference, develop regionally and nationally ranked players to allow SEU to host postseason matches, win at home and reach the Sweet 16.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

The women’s tennis team is comprised of only three returning players and six freshmen.

“ … this semester has been more about [the freshmen] getting to know the culture of the program, the daily routine and the way I run things and coach,” Brooks says. “I am taking a bit stronger approach to fitness this year.”

Some of the standouts  were freshmen Anjali Sampath and Laura Galvan, and  sophomore Marissa Williams, who all did well at the USTA/ITA Regional Tournament.

Successful doubles teams this fall were Sampath and Williams; freshman Paola Carpio and sophomore Vanessa Camara; and senior Ivana Zecevic and Galvan.

“We don’t necessarily have a clear definition of who is the ‘best’ player or top players, but instead can be more interchangeable,” Brooks says. “I think this will serve us well as the season begins and we can be really strong throughout our lineup. I have really been impressed with our freshman so far.”

Brooks says the team goals are: “winning the Heartland Conference and more importantly advance to postseason play. Last year, we returned to the NCAA tournament after missing it for two years, and that would be the ultimate goal again for this year.”