The men’s and women’s tennis teams began their seasons Sept. 3 and 4 with the annual ACU Walmart Open Tennis Tournament. The tournament started in 1985 and has become a tradition as the first tournament of the year for many local universities.

Each Wildcat player had four singles matches and three doubles matches to play over the two-day period. This didn’t wear down the Wildcats however, as eight Wildcats made it to the finals in their singles flights (brackets), and five pairs made it to the finals in their doubles flights.

“It’s definitely a physical test but a great way to get a lot of match play quickly,” said Coach Hutton Jones.

Sophomore Hans Hach won both his singles and doubles flights, defeating his Wildcat teammate and fellow sophomore, Alfredo Desiati, in his singles flight final in three sets, 2-6, 7-6, 10-7. With the help of junior Jake Hendrie, a new teammate from St. Louis University, Hach was able to win his doubles flight final in two sets, 6-3, 7-6.

Hach was a competitive junior tennis player in high school, beating multiple players ranked in the top 100. He came to ACU last year but was unable to begin competing for the Wildcats until this season.

“Hans made a statement right off the bat,” Jones said. “He is special.”

Julia Mongin, a sophomore business management major from France, made the same statement on the women’s side, winning her singles and doubles flights as well. She beat her senior teammate Jaclyn Walker in a tough singles flight final match in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 10-7. Mongin then won her doubles flight final in just two sets with help from her teammate, junior Cassie Carver, 6-2, 6-4.

“It was great getting a lot of matches to start the year, especially getting to play both doubles and singles,” Mongin said.

Many other players had very successful tournaments as well, including junior communications major and Dallas native Nick Plum. Plum was able to make it to the final in his doubles flight. After the final, Plum said he had high expectations for the future.

“We obviously want a national championship,” Plum said. “We expect to win regionals and hope to do at least as well as we did last year in the national tournament [quarter finals].”

The season has now officially begun, and many others like Plum have high expectations for the team, including Coach Jones.

“There are good things ahead,” Jones said. “Good things for both the men’s and women’s Wildcat teams.”