Harding University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams are back in action this month for the Spring 2012 portion of their seasons, after playing only a handful of matches in Fall 2011. The women’s team began play on Feb. 3 with a 3-6 loss to Northeastern State University, and the men’s team began on Feb. 7 with a 9-0 victory over Hendrix College. The Bisons are currently 7-0 for the season, while the Lady Bisons are 5-2.
David Elliott, head coach of both Harding tennis teams, said he had high expectations for the rest of the season, which will include the teams’ first conference matches, beginning in late March.
“It’s the most talented team I’ve ever had,” Elliott said, referring specifically to the men’s team. “We’re deep. We’ve got players [who] are seven, eight, nine or 10 in our lineup, [who] in almost any other period of time would have been in the top six. I feel very good about our chances this season. We’re going to be competitive.”
Members of the men’s team said they agree with Elliott, emphasizing the high level of ability and versatility of fellow teammates across the lineup.
“We are going to be a very good team this year,” junior Adam Edwards said. “We have eight guys [who] could all beat each other on any given day. I honestly think we can win our conference, but we will have to work very hard to beat our rival, Ouachita Baptist.”
Still, the men’s team will not be standing alone in the spotlight this season, according to Elliott, who believes that the women’s team has a realistic chance of competing for the conference championship. Some members of the women’s team, like junior Chelsea Hunt, are setting their sights even higher.
“I think we have a very strong team,” Hunt said. “We hope to do well [enough] in tournament to be able to go to nationals. I think we can do it.”
Regardless of how far the Lady Bisons make it this season, team members said they believe the team will perform at its highest level in years.
Members of both teams said they believe that last season was a success, and several have said they plan to build on that success with dedication and hard work during practice. The Bisons were 1-2 in the conference last season and finished with a 16-4 overall record, while the Lady Bisons went 4-1 in the conference and ended last season 18-7. So far, the men have gone undefeated this season, and the women have lost only two matches, one against the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, in September, and the other against Northeastern State University, earlier this month.
