Tennis hosts GLVC Championships
The University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s tennis teams hosted this year’s Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships on April 19-20 at the UIndy Tennis Center.
For the men, the Greyhounds won their first match against the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons, 5-1. The Greyhounds lost in the next round, however, to the eventual champion University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles by the final score of 5-0. The Greyhounds would receive the chance to claim third place, however, against the Rockhurst University Hawks, but fell in that match as well, 5-2.
The men’s finish in the tournament was their best since 2006, when they defeated Southern Indiana in the third place match.
The UIndy women’s team won their third place match, however, defeating Rockhurst, 5-1. On April 19, the Hounds won their first match as well over Missouri-St. Louis, 5-0, but fell in their next match against the eventual champion Drury University, 5-0, which set up their match with the Hawks.
The finish for the women in the tournament was their best since 2007, when they took second place.
The Greyhounds competed on April 13 against Southern Indiana at the UIndy
Tennis Center. The men’s team lost 8-1 with its only win coming from freshman Luke
Herbert at the No. 3 position in singles competition. However, the women’s team won
with a winning score of 9-0.
Sophomore Austin Ruddell said that he still felt good about the men’s
team, but that the losses were tough.
“We’re doing pretty well,” Ruddell said. “It was a tough loss, a match we all
thought we should have won. But we come back to practice with a lot of motivation to do
well.”
Junior Kasey Land said that everyone has been working hard with the momentum
from winning.
“We definitely work just as hard at every practice,” Land said. “It’s just nice to
have momentum, because it allows you to keep your confidence.”
Both Land and Ruddell said that the team is supporting one another and looking
out for each other, which is exactly what first-year Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis
Coach Malik Tabet had in mind.
Tabet said he is seeing his players make many strides in their performance.
“The girls really peaked, and we’re having a good moment right now,” Tabet
said. “I’m seeing a lot of good things that we’ve been trying to implement throughout
the year and it’s paying off.”
Tabet said that he is enjoying his first year as head coach and that his main
priority is teamwork.
“I’m really happy and excited to be here coaching both teams,” Tabet said.
“Everything is falling into place for me, and the kids are making it worthwhile.”
Tabet said that he is bringing new life to the team through new team bonding
initiatives.
“I’m establishing new traditions and rituals,” Tabet said. “I want to make sure
they know teamwork and team bonding. They always need to be there for each other.”
As for the future of the teams, Tabet said things are looking up.
“We’re going to improve the program,” Tabet said. “We’ve already implemented
a really good base.”
The women’s team will now await their postseason fate until Tuesday at 8 p.m., for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships selection announcement on NCAA.com.
