The women’s and men’s tennis teams took on a double header Saturday, challenging Hardin Simmons University and Western New Mexico University.
“We need the matches, even though we have a few recovering from injuries,” Head Coach Hutton Jones said.
The energy was high as the day started with doubles matches against Hardin Simmons. Nada Marjanovic is currently No. 1 for the lady’s team and Borja Cortes at No.1 for the men’s team.
Hach Hans and Nicklas Wingord started their doubles match strong, continuing their streak from the matches against Tennessee. In the fourth set, Winford made a last save attempt, which with huge surprise was in. The duo defeated Michael McCullough and Nathan Chavez 8-1.
The men’s team made this weekend their chance at redemption, winning all of their singles and doubles matches when challenging HSU.
After injuring his wrist last weekend, Borja Cortes, managed to still bring the heat, defeating Michael McCullough 6-1, 6-3.
Nicklas Wingord and Jason Proctor added to the excitement of the morning, each with a 6-1 straight victory against Nathan Chavez and Frankie Sanchez.
The ladies did not even break a sweat against HSU. Like the men’s team, the ladies won all of their singles matches and both doubles matches.
Hannah Kelley won by default. Kaysie Hermsdorf, Emily Conrad, and Jamie Lee Denton all won with an astonishing 6-0 straight victory.
Hardin Simmons proved no threat against the Wildcats with the men 9-0 and the women 7-0 against the cowboys.
Later in the afternoon, both teams faced Western-New Mexico University.
The Wildcats held on to their momentum, ending with a 9-0 victory over the mustangs.
Two ladies that added to the strength of Saturday were Nada Marjanovic who defeated Claudia Osuna 6-1,6-3 and Kaysie Hermsdorf, who took on Diamond Morril, 6-0, 6-2.
The men’s team went 8-1 against Western-New Mexico.
The match to see was that of duo Nicklas Wingord and Kyle Plum as they went up against Matthieu Covizzi and Jorge Carretero.
Fans could feel the tension and high energy in the air that surrounded the last of the doubles matches as Wingord and Plum pushed their limits in the “sudden death” match. They finished with a well-deserved 9-8 victory.
The match up of Cortes and Covizzi proved difficult as the pain from his recent injury took the best of Cortes.
Cheering for her teammate, Marjanovic was one of many trying to encourage Cortes during the match. “Sometimes you just need to stay positive.” She said. Covizzi defeated Cortes 7-6, 6-4.
The men’s team is now 5-4 in the conference and the women’s team is 6-1.
The University of the Southwest and University of Texas of the Permian Basin will be the men’s next double header as the women face Butler University.
