Injuries and tough competition have led the Baker University men’s and women’s tennis teams to mixed results in the last week, but the teams are optimistic about the final tournaments of the fall season, coach Regan Dodd said.
The team competed in the Wichita Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament Saturday and Sunday, which included Division I, Division II and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools.
At the tournament, four women’s singles players made it to the semifinals, while two doubles teams also made it to the semifinals. On the men’s side, one singles player was eliminated in the semifinals, while senior Martin Renteria was runner-up in his flight.
Senior Danielle Cartier, who made it to the semifinals in the C bracket, said she feels the play against larger schools will be beneficial in the spring and at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Tournament Sept. 24-26 in Kansas City, Kan.
“I think playing the good schools we normally don’t play will help us get better for the spring,” she said. “We’ve been practicing really hard, and our work has been paying off.
Two players on the men’s side, senior Jose Mota and sophomore Hunter Hollarn, sat out the Wichita tournament due to injuries.
“When you pull out two of your top six, it’s difficult,” Dodd said.
Senior Joe Ahmadian said he was also plagued by physical ailments during his victory at a scrimmage against Washburn University Tuesday. After winning in a super tiebreaker 6-7, 6-4 (10-8), Ahmadian got the only win for the men in No. 2 singles.
“I had to play a different game with my injury,” he said “I just hung in there. I came out on the better end of it.”
For the women, junior Melissa Shank brought home the only victory, winning the No. 5 singles match 7-5, 6-2.
The two teams will finish out their fall season over the next two weekends with the Bethany College Invitational in Lindsborg and Salina Saturday and Sunday and the ITA tournament the next weekend.
“This weekend, hopefully we’ll get some good matches in, not damaging our bodies too much, so we can play at a high level at the ITA next weekend,” Ahmadian said.
The winner of the ITA tournament advances to the national tournament this spring.
Dodd said she feels good about her teams’ chances, particularly the chances of seniors Marti Eidson, Ahmadian and Mota. junior Michael Angarita and several doubles teams.
“I’m excited for the ITA. I think we definitely have players on both sides who could win it,” Dodd said.
The doubles team of Mota and Ahmadian made the semifinals last year. Eidson has been runner-up the last two years.
Eidson said she feels good with less than two weeks before the tournament.
“Personally, I feel that I’m playing pretty good tennis right now, and hopefully this weekend will prepare me for the next. I’m feeling optimistic because I’m playing very well,” Eidson said. “You’re always nervous going in being the one that’s supposed to win. This year, I don’t feel like I should win. I feel like it’s just another tournament where I should go and play my best.”