Tennis Set To Open Season On Friday
1/12/2017 5:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A new era in Sam Houston State tennis begins this weekend when new head coach Rob Hubbard sends his squad out against Prairie View A&M and UT Rio Grande Valley at the McAdams Tennis Center.
First serve against the Panthers on Friday is set for 2:30 p.m. in the season opener, followed by an 11 a.m. match against UT Rio Grande Valley on Sunday. The Kats will also host Dallas Baptist on Jan. 21 to round out a three-match homestand to open the year before hitting the road for six straight matches, not returning for a match in Huntsville until the conference opener on March 2 against Stephen F. Austin.
“It's a balanced schedule, but we will look to strengthen that in the future,” Hubbard said. “The Southland Conference always provides some very good teams and we would like to do our part to strengthen the conference. I have a good idea from the tournaments as to what can transpire.”
Hubbard joined the Bearkats in July and inherited a young team that finished 7-13 a year ago, but returns six players, including three players who held down the top three spots in the lineup for the entirety of 2016.
The players gave me everything I asked of them in the fall,” Hubbard said. “There were no hurdles as far as accepting a new culture and training. I'm proud of all of them and they have all given me exactly what I've asked for. “
Fabienne Gettwart returns after going 11-9 in No. 1 play as a sophomore, but Hubbard maintains that all players have shown great signs. Carrie Casey won seven matches at No. 2 singles play and Ema Barkovic pulled off nine victories at the No. 3 spot, giving the Kats a formidable trio at the top of the lineup.
The Kats also got 11 wins from Mila Milanovic between Nos. 4 and 5 singles and return juniors Caitlyn Mitchell and a healthy Khee Yen Wee to round out the returners. Hubbard also welcomes Diane Friedrichs, a freshman from Germany who showed well in fall play and should immediately strengthen the Bearkat roster.
“We used the fall for everyone to get to know each other,” Hubbard said. “We spent a great deal of time working on doubles, which was a huge weakness for us last year. That is one of the things we are trying to work on – getting on the winning side of the doubles point.”
Sam Houston was just 18-37 in doubles play in 2016, but according to Hubbard, the team has already shown marked improvement in that area.
“We worked on tactics and techniques in doubles and stepped up conditioning, which the players have been very accepting of, “Hubbard said. “We don't have any seniors, so everything we do and learn we can carry over to next year. The nucleus is in place and I expect us to evolve a lot as the season moves along.”
