The Online Reflector

The University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s tennis teams competed against the McKendree University Bearcats on April 7. The men fell short by one point in their loss, but the women won decisively with a final score of 7-2.
Both Greyhound teams claimed victories on April 6 against the Knights of Bellarmine University. The men won by a score of 6-3, while the women won 7-2.
For the women, the Greyhounds won all competition in singles, while the Knights took two victories in doubles competition. For the men, UIndy claimed more victories than the Knights in both singles and doubles competition. The men claimed four of six in singles competition and took two of three in doubles competition.
The Hounds lost on March 30 to the Lewis University Flyers at home. The men’s team lost 7-2, while the women lost 6-3.
The women’s team ended a four-match winning streak with the loss. The Greyhounds had a winning start in doubles with senior Alex Covington and junior Claire Liles winning 8-5 at No. 3 doubles, while freshman Macey Speer and senior Rachel Barger walked away with an 8-4 victory at No. 2, giving the Hounds a 2-1 lead going into singles. However, the Flyers bested the Greyhounds, winning the top three singles spots. The Greyhounds finished with Barger claiming the victory at No. 4, while sophomore Brooke Boyts at No. 5 and Liles at No. 6 both suffered losses.
For the men, Lewis quickly swept the No. 2 and 3 doubles, but the Flyers had a more competitive match with UIndy for the No. 1 spot with freshmen Fausto Cordova and Ryan Frankel. However, the duo fell in the eighth game, 9-7. The Greyhounds were competitive in singles, with each player going all three sets in the top three matches. Freshman Luke Hubert handily won the first set and came close to winning the third, with scores of 6-1, 6-3 and 7-6. Cordova, at No. 3, redeemed himself after losing the first set and won the Greyhounds’ first match point with a victory. UIndy took a run at the No. 1 spot with Frankel leading in the third set, but he could not hold on to the lead and lost. Junior Caleb Fellers scored UIndy’s second and final point after the match had been decided with a win at No. 6.
Junior Trevor Cox said that although the men lost, they have come a long way from where they were as a team last year.
“We had kind of a tough loss this weekend. We were in a lot of matches that we could have won, but it was a big improvement from last year,” he said. “We got killed by them [Lewis] last year.”
Boyts said that both teams have made improvements this season in attitude and discipline and have had a better overall foundation and playing strategy. In addition, Boyts said that the team is working together toward the common goal of giving their all on the court.
“We are playing for each other as a team. It is not just for individuals anymore at this point,” Boyts said. “We have really learned to put in the extra effort and work harder than our opponents to put in that extra 20 or 50 percent.”
Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach Malik Tabet said that both teams have been more competitive this season and have shown marked improvement.
“They have done a lot of improvements. Now they just need to refine it [their skills]. I think the mentality of trying to be more aggressive on the tennis court is key,” Tabet said. “We have talked about trying to … make people remember UIndy tennis. That’s kind of the challenge I am giving them the rest of the season.”
Tabet said that he is pleased with the way the teams have been playing and applying the “warrior ethos” he has tried to instill in them.
“I am very proud of the way my team is playing this season [and] that they have really bought into my coaching style,” Tabet said. “We are going to finish strong this season. We have a big challenge ahead of us, and I think that the players are ready to take that challenge.”
The women’s next match will be at 4 p.m. on April 12 at home against the Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers. Both UIndy teams will compete at home at 10 a.m. on April 13 against the University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.