Both the men’s and women’s Wildcat tennis teams will be in action over fall break weekend as they compete in the USTA/ITA Tennis Regional Championships. Multiple top schools will be attending both tournaments, including the University of Texas, Rice University and SMU.
Being able to compete and play against a large number of skilled players from different colleges gives ACU players the opportunity to compete more at the Div. I level against larger schools, especially the freshmen that are still adjusting to the program during the offseason.
“I don’t really know what to expect since it’s my first year,” freshman Brad Gleason said. “But I know that everyone’s excited and it’s a good opportunity.”
Gleason said that the teams are looking forward to the challenge that the other schools face and have been able to prepare for those teams with practice and help from their coaches.
“Our coach likes to, instead of focusing on a lot of technique and put a lot into our brains about how we’re actually hitting the ball, he likes to talk about how to think on the court and to just be confident and patient,” Gleason said.
Both Wildcat teams are coming off nearly a month without action after, over the weekend of Sept. 19-21, the men’s team traveled to New Mexico State’s Invitational, while the women went up to Norman, Okla. for the Oklahoma University Invitational.
“We’re really excited because everyone’s healthy now,” Gleason said. “Weekends without tournaments are great to get caught up on rest. It’s good to get regrouped because the tournament this weekend is a big one.”
Gleason said that despite the size and the importance of this tournament, the ACU teams are only looking at it positively.
“There’s a little bit of pressure but it’s more like a really good opportunity,” Gleason said. “Baylor and Texas and Texas A&M, they’re all like Top 10 schools in the country so, it’s just a good opportunity to go out and do your best.”
The women will be competing at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, starting on Thursday, Oct. 16 and the men be at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, starting on Saturday, Oct. 18.
