After the men’s and women’s tennis team had their final regular match of the season against Oklahoma Baptist cut short due to inclement weather, the Wildcats now await their first-ever Southland Conference Tournament.
The teams made it through the doubles matches and half of the opening singles matches on Tuesday before it was called.
ACU heads to Beaumont this weekend with the men ranked as the third seed in the tournament, while the women enter ranked sixth.
Senior Whitney Williams said she likes where the teams are at heading into conference.
“I’m excited to be playing in Beaumont at Lamar because when we faced them in a dual match we all played really well at those courts,” Williams said. “So, I think that’s promising when looking towards the tournament.”
The men finished the season with a 14-10 record overall and were undefeated in conference before dropping their last two to finish at 3-2 in the six-team league.
Meanwhile, the women posted a 13-8 record overall and won five of their last six matches for conference record of 7-4. Each of the teams also had individual players honored on Wednesday with all-conference recognition.
The men snagged the top four spots on the second team, as junior Josh Sheehy, sophomores Jonathan Sheehy and Niko Moceanu and senior Henry Adams were all awarded all-conference. Josh Sheehy led the team with 13 wins at the No. 1 spot, followed by Jonathan Sheehy with 12 at the No. 2.
On the women’s side, senior Lucile Pothier and freshman Nini Memishishi each landed second team all-conference honors at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots respectively. Pothier was 13-4 at the top spot for the Wildcats and Memishishi only lost one match at the No. 3 spot and led the team with 16 wins.
Williams said the team see the conference tournament as a fresh start.
“We as a team are strong, smart and talented all in our own ways, but together we are a tough team to beat,” Williams said. “The conference tournament is a second chance for us and we are going to make the most of it.”
For Williams and Pothier this is their first and last chance to play in the conference tournament. Williams said she’s been looking forward to this for a long time.
“This is my first time playing in the conference tournament and it’s been a long wait,” Williams said. “I’m super excited for the opportunity and so is Lucile. I think we are a deserving team and can potentially win the tournament. We’ve been through a lot together, but I’m excited to be sharing this experience with not only my teammates, but my friends.’
The tournament begins Friday with the first round matches and goes until Sunday when the championship matches will be played.
