The ACU men’s and women’s tennis teams were busy over spring break. The women took on seven different schools during the break, and the men faced six different opponents, including the Las Vegas Invitational.
On March 12, both teams played well against the University of Incarnate Word, the men winning 7-2 and the women getting the 8-1 victory. The Lone Star Conference rival Cardinals were no match for the ‘Cats, as both ACU teams made quick work of the day’s match. The following day, ACU took on St. Edwards, where the women remained dominant and the men fell in a close 5-4 match to the 14th-ranked Hilltoppers. The women’s team extended their winning streak to 11 wins with their 8-1 victory over the women of St. Edwards.
Both teams faced their toughest opposition in the Las Vegas Invitational during the week of spring break; all of the women’s tournament opponents were ranked in the Top 5 in the nation, and the men faced three teams ranked eighth or higher.
The men rebounded quickly from the disappointing loss to St. Edwards with a 5-4 victory over No. 8 Concordia on Tuesday. The same day the women finally saw their 11-game win streak fall to Lynn University, the third-ranked team in the nation, with a score of 8-1. Jaclyn Walker picked up the only point for ACU.
Again the men defeated a higher-ranked opponent with the score of 5-4 over West Florida on the second day of the Invitational. The women also faced the West Florida Argonauts, pulling off the convincing 7-2 win to push them to a 13-4 record for the season.
“We did pretty good against tough teams,” sophomore Julia Mongin said. “Every match was close, but it was good experience playing tough opponents. I think it made us stronger for our future matches.”
Both teams fell last Thursday, the final day of matches at the Las Vegas Invitational, to the highest-ranked teams they faced all tournament. The men lost to the No. 3 Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates 7-2, and the women were defeated by the Lady Pirates, the top team in the country, with the same 7-2 score.
After a few days rest, both teams defeated Midwestern State in Wichita Falls on Sunday. The men handed the mustangs their first Division II loss of the season with a 6-3 margin. The No. 6 women’s Wildcat team won 7-2, winning all six singles matches.
“Midwestern came out playing really well, but we expected that,” said sophomore Eldad Campbell. “We played well throughout spring break, and that carried over. We had a long 12 days but the team continues to improve.”
The women’s next matches will be March 30 in Birmingham, Ala., and the next time the men take the court will be the April 1 in Montgomery, Ala.
