The men and women’s tennis team lost their matches this past weekend against Nicholls State University on the road against the Southland Conference opponent.
On Friday, the men’s team fell 2-4 in very close, competitive duals. The only wins from the matches came from singles competition with senior Guilherme Gesser and sophomore Nico Agritelley as the team dropped three of its five singles matches. Junior Marco Bensley’s match against Max Sinn was left unfinished.
Gesser defeated Partha Adavelly in close sets of 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 and Agritelley defeated Evan Karatzas 6-3 and 6-3. The Colonels swept the Wildcats in doubles competition in two of the three matches. The third match from freshman Paul Domanski/ Bensley was left unfinished.
The competition against Nicholls State left the men’s team with an 8-14 overall record as the team dropped to 1-2 in conference play. The women’s team also dropped down in conference play to 3-4 as the team stands at 7-4 overall.
In singles competition against the Colonels, No. 4 sophomore Erin Walker and No. 5 junior Nada Marjanovic contributed wins. Carrying over to doubles competition, senior Brittney Reed and junior Kaysie Hermsdorf defeated their opponent 8-2 as the two contributed to their thirteenth win of the spring and fourth win in conference. The other doubles win came from Walker/ freshman Whitney Williams as the duo won 8-4. The two made the win their fourth straight together as they both improve to 7-5.
As the young group improves in their play, so does the bond and chemistry in playing together. Walker mentions how each match is focused primarily on giving it their all.
“Winning is a great confidence booster,” Walker said, “but each match is different so we have really just tired to go out in each match and give it our best.”
The Wildcats will return to play this Sunday at home as the men’s team will play Southland Conference opponent, Lamar University and the University of Texas- Permian Basin. The women’s team will travel to Dallas as the team takes a break from conference play. The Wildcats will compete against Dallas Baptist and Southern Methodist University on Friday.
As the end of the season is coming up, the Wildcats are shooting for their goals in conference play.
“To end the season being one of the top teams in our conference,” Hermsdorf said. “We need to be ready both physically and mentally and I believe we have what it takes to be a top team.”
