This upcoming weekend will mark the last weekend of regular play for the men’s and women’s tennis teams.
Although for the women the season was marked by great improvement and they now find themselves behind only Willamette in the rankings with an eye on a playoff berth, for the men this weekend marks the end of the season.
Their loss to regionally-ranked Willamette on Apr. 2 was the crucial point of no return. The men’s team will sadly not be making an appearance at conference playoffs. After making it to the playoffs last season, this is a decline in performance. However, positivity is not lacking.
“Men’s tennis expects to improve significantly in the upcoming years now that we seem finally to have found a consistent coach. This year was important for building consistency in the program, and the benefit of that should show next year. We will expect to be a strong team in the conference next season,” sophomore Ben Miller (Silverdale, Wash.) said.
The Logger tennis teams are systematically brushed to the side during the spring sports season, with baseball and softball taking precedence. It is not a spectator sport, and is sometimes considered a dry sport to watch if necessary. However, it is a highly competitive sport that takes a different mentality than team sports.
“I chose to play tennis because it is one of the most competitive sports. It’s only the individual on the court competing, and even though teammates are rooting, the outcome is solely in the individual’s control. It’s a great sport, and I really developed a love for it as I played more in high school,” Miller said.
Hopefully, in the coming years, the tennis teams will gain more of an audience as they strive for excellence.
The women’s team has done just that this season. In a comeback victory over Willamette on Apr. 2, the Loggers are now ranked directly behind the Bearcats.
The match, which ended in a 5-4 Logger victory, was thrilling as it came down to the very last point. It took the Loggers four singles victories to take the win.
Their defeat of Willamette allows the Loggers to have a chance at partaking in the Northwest Conference women’s tennis tournament. Whitworth and Whitman have already solidified their slots in the tournament, but it is still a battle for the final slot.
Both teams will play their final regular season matches against Whitworth and Whitman on Apr. 8 and Apr. 9. The men will be on the road while the women will be hosting the competition here on campus.