GLVC gets competitive
By JP Sinclair | Editorial Assistant
The University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s tennis teams went a weekend run that ended in victory, March 28 and 29.
The men played Quincy University on the 29th, but results were not available as of The Reflector press time.
On March 28, the ‘Hounds defeated the University of Missouri-St. Louis 5-2.
Opening the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the team went 2-0, defeating Lewis University 7-2 on March 20, before dominating St. Joseph’s College 9-0 on March 21.
“We opened conference with Lewis, who is decent, and St. Joe’s, who has struggled in recent years and [that] allowed us to play some of [the] younger guys,” said head coach John Venter. “We are ranked eighth in the region, so we would be in the regional if the season ended today. We are just looking to stay healthy and play our best tennis.”
Junior Kyle Prow had a prior obligation and could not compete, so freshman Matt Smith played at the No. 3 singles role in Prow’s place, going 2-0 over the weekend.
“Matt Smith has two state double championships and comes from a major tennis background, he has been playing with a poor shoulder and is doing his best to go out and play,” Venter said.
Men’s doubles had a perfect 6-0 on the weekend. Freshman Taylor Broda had a solid weekend and enhanced his team-leading singles mark to 12-5 on the season. In singles play, junior Werner Henning, freshman Jeff Price and Smith all went 2-0 over St. Joe’s.
“Matt, Taylor and Jeff are all going to do big things for UIndy tennis over the next four years,” Prow said.
Venter said the team, as a whole, pairs up well for doubles and makes a more balanced team.
The women’s team also played Quincy University on March 29, but results were not available as of The Reflector press time.
The ‘Hounds traveled to St. Louis, Mo., March 28, to take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis and defeated them 5-4.
The women went 1-1 March 20-21, losing to Lewis 3-6 on March 20, before defeating St. Joe’s 7-2 on March 21, to even out their conference record 1-1. Freshman Meghan Teunis and junior Aly Neidlinger both notched singles victories over the weekend. Neidlinger has won her last seven matches in a row.
“Aly and Meghan have been successful where they are, and it’s helped tremendously,” Venter said. “We are largely a freshman team and are growing, with only one senior and one junior.”
Neidlinger said despite being a junior, she is comfortable playing in the four, five and six singles role that she has been asked to play during the season, going 8-5 so far this season.
“Being a junior, it’s really been a fortunate turnaround because I get to play people I have played before,” Neidlinger said. “Being moved around in the lineup hasn’t affected my play, which has been nice.”
Freshman Alena Perez-Majul scored two double wins and a single win over the weekend.
“Our doubles have been shuffled around as we try and find the right combinations and who will work well together,” Neidlinger said.
Over Spring Break, March 8-13, both teams were in action in Florida where the men went 3-2 and the women went 2-2.
“We played well in Florida,” Prow said. “Even though we lost twice, those teams were both tough teams, and we put ourselves right there to get a victory.”
Venter said that they were looking to be more consistent in their lineup.
“We are really balanced,” Venter said. “A lot of teams have heavy hitters at the top of the lineup but don’t dominate in the lower sections of the lineup in the 4-6 spots, and we do, which helps us tremendously.”
