The ACU men’s and women’s tennis teams were in action this past weekend. The men were in Tennessee at the Steve Baras Classic and the women were in Houston for the Rice Fall Invitational.

The men faired well in the tournament as ACU teammates Borja Cortes and Nicklas Wingord each won semifinal matches in three sets, setting up an all-Wildcat final at the Steve Baras Classic.

Sophomore Jason Proctor lost in the Flight 3 semifinals to Rob Mitchell of Lipscomb, 6-1, 6-2 and Marco Bensley was eliminated in Flight 4 by Liam Sullivan of Samford, 6-0, 6-3.

Proctor, a marketing major from Tulsa, Okla., said he was not, by his standards, physically at the top of his game. He said he is excited for the Div. I competition he will be facing week in and week out.

“I have confidence in my ability 100 percent to compete with top Div. I competition,” Proctor said. “We played many Div. I schools last year, so I feel accustomed to competing and succeeding at the Div. I level.”

Proctor and freshman Nico Agritelley lost in doubles semifinals, 8-6, to a team from Eastern Tennessee. Proctor plans to get his serve in rhythm, a part of his game that is crucial for him to be successful.

On the women’s side from the Rice Invitational, freshman Erin Walker improves her record to 7-2 after winning the Flight 4 championship 6-4, 6-1. It only took her three tournaments to claim her first title of her young college career.  The Wildcats also scored two wins over Texan A&M.

In female singles, Kaysie Hermsdorf won third place in the Flight 3 singles, 6-3, 6-1. Her sister Micah Hermsdorf beat A&M’s Saska Gavrilovska in her match 6-0, 6-4, but fell in the second round to Jessica Kahts of Texas State.

“I felt most prepared this weekend, Brittney Reed and I played the best doubles we’ve played together,” said Micah Hermsdorf. “I was happy about the wins over A&M and I played my best tennis so far the season this weekend.”

Hermsdorf took down her second Aggie of the day with teammate Brittney Reed in doubles, 8-0.

John Walker, assistant coach of tennis, was satisfied with the way the women played.

“I was very pleased with they way they competed, and how well they are playing this early into the season,” Walker said.

Walker said being an underdog can play to their advantage, because it can all be left out on the court and there is nothing to lose. However, it’s about finding the hunger not only for matches where they are the underdog but are also favored.

The Wildcats return to action in three weeks for ITA Regionals, which are taking place in Fort Worth.