Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Sports / Tennis team set for new season following successful summer recruiting

Tennis team set for new season following successful summer recruiting

August 24, 2005 by Jared Fields

By Jared Fields, Sports Editor

After a record setting year for ACU tennis last spring, head coach Hutton Jones reloaded his arsenal with a talented class of freshmen for the 2005-06 year.

Last year the women’s team finished with a school record 31 wins and the men finished with one of the highest final rankings in Jones’ nine years after being upset in the regional finals.

The women advanced to the national tournament, where they lost in the first round to Lynn University and finished the season ranked eighth in the Division II national poll. Jones lost three players from singles play and three from doubles, but recruited five women to fill the void.

“I feel like we’re bringing in five girls who are really strong players,” Jones said.

With the loss of five players from last year’s team, and such a big freshman class, some might say that this could be a down year for the Wildcats.

“A clichŽ might be that this is a rebuilding year,” Jones said, “but I’m not going to buy into that. I feel like we’ve got the talent. We were dominant in region and conference and I still expect to do that.”

Artin Tafazoli was selected to the all-American team last year as a senior and is now a graduate assistant for Jones. Tafazoli is the first men’s tennis all-American for ACU in seven years, and he is the only man not returning from last year’s team.

“We’re adding several new players,” Jones said. “It’s a great problem for the coach because these are all really talented players. Where everyone else will end up, I won’t know that until mid-spring.”

Even with the loss of an all-American, Jones says that he expects his team to be better than his 2004-05 squad.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I think we could be better than last year, I really do,” Jones said. “I expect to be better than last year.”

The players’ first chance to compete this year is Sept. 9-10 when ACU hosts the ACU Wal-Mart Open.

Jones says he’s optimistic about his team.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Jones said. “I think it’s going to be fun.”

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Tennis

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats head to Denton to take on Mean Green

  • Wildcats face major struggles in first ever UAC matchup

  • ACU sweeps Seattle University in WAC opener

About Jared Fields

You are here: Home / Sports / Tennis team set for new season following successful summer recruiting

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats head to Denton to take on Mean Green

  • Wildcats face major struggles in first ever UAC matchup

  • ACU sweeps Seattle University in WAC opener

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

4 days ago

The Optimist
The student-run Hispanos Unidos club put together its annual Entra a La Plaza to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Attendees were able to experience authentic Hispanic traditions like traditional Hispanic food, dancing with live music and offered selections from local businesses like Mary’s Paleteria. For more media coverage for this event and others visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio.-------------------------------------------------------------#acu #acunews #HispanicHeritageMonth #hispanosunidos ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 week ago

The Optimist
As the Student Government Association celebrates its 100th year of existence, 56 officials have been elected, including four presidents for each class. Read more about the officers and representatives at acuoptimist.com or by clicking the link in our bio.-------------------------------------------------------------#acu #acunews #acusga #abilenechristianuniversity #acuofficers ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 22, 2023

Our top stories this week include the passing of Dr. Bob Hunter, a new endowment ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 8, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved