Harding’s men’s and women’s tennis teams competed in the USTA/ITA Central Region Tournament at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., Sept. 20-22.
Five of the six players on the men’s team won their first round matches and three of five won their second round matches, placing them in the top 16 players in the central region. Freshman Mathaus Spiering and junior Yann Le Mat played doubles and won two rounds, placing them in the top eight doubles teams in the region.
From the women’s team, senior Benyapa “Pom Pom” Phumtip and junior Kaleigh Wagner both won three matches. Wagner currently holds an 11-match winning streak.
Junior Maria Moreno, who won two matches in the women’s singles “B” draw, said she was encouraged by the results from last weekend’s tournament and sees potential for both personal and team growth.
“I am really happy with the way I played this weekend,” Moreno said. “I played two matches and I was surprised about how much I have mentally grown when I play a tennis match. I was able to maintain myself, being focused and aggressive. I felt really confident and I definitely had a good time playing.”
Junior Caleb McReynolds said he thinks the outcomes of the tournament were due in part to the level of training members of the teams are receiving this season.
“This fall, our team has started getting up early for morning work outs and conditioning,” McReynolds said. “I feel like this has greatly helped our endurance and performance on the court during matches. As a whole, our team had a great tournament. I saw a lot of positive things and I’m excited about the upcoming season. I feel like we can have a really good year if we keep working hard.”
Marco Ruiz, head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams, said he is pleased with the results of this weekends tournament. Ruiz said he thinks they will help show the teams what they need to do to prepare for upcoming tournaments.
“I am really excited about the upcoming falltournaments and our season in the spring,” Ruiz said. “I am very pleased with how hard our players have been practicing and playing, but I know that this is just the beginning. This past weekend’s tournament was agreat opportunity to show us where we stand in the moment and to motivate us to keep working hard every day.”
The men’s and women’s teams defeated Rhodes College on Sept. 25. The women’s team competes today through Sunday in the University of Central Arkansas Tournament in Conway, Ark.
