The men’s tennis team will take their 7-7 record on the road this weekend to Waco as they take on Temple College and Baylor.
The Baylor men started the season ranked No. 8 in the nation and have only improved since then, jumping up to No. 5. They boast a 14-4 record and currently ride a six-game win streak.
The ACU men have a two-game winning steak on the line, both wins against conference foes. Assistant coach John Walker likes the positivity and toughness of the team.
“Those two conference matches are a result of these guys staying tough, positive and believing in each other,” Walker said. “They had a rough stretch of losses prior to those two conference wins, but really improved and kept coming to work with confident attitudes.”
Walker said he likes the opportunity that lies ahead with the match against Baylor from a competitor’s standpoint.
“Our match with Baylor is a great opportunity,” Walker said. “As a competitor, the most fun thing to do is go out and test yourself against one of the best division one tennis programs in the country. All of our guys are excited and ready to mix it up with Baylor. It will be a win-win situation for us.”
This season has been filled with its ups and downs that are expected in the first year of Div. I competition.
“We are satisfied but yet also very eager to improve,” Walker said. “Our guys are learning and improving through the great competition we face each week. We as coaches will continue to push our guys in practice and expect them to fight each and every point of every match we play and at the end of the day consider it all joy.”
Sophomore Jason Proctor said he believes if they can execute like they know they can, they will be in a winning position.
“We are not concerned with the what the rankings say. It is just a number,” Proctor said. “We know if we execute our own game, that will be enough to put us in a winning position. If we simply control what we can control, opportunities will arise.”
The men will not be back in Abilene until April 5 when they will take on Nicholls State in the Southland Conference.
