Saturday, February 1, 2014

Welcome Back Warhawk Tennis Fans!

The spring season is upon us!  The men reported back to school after the holiday break a week early, so we could do two-a-day practices including challenge matches, drill sessions, and some team bonding.  We played some platform tennis with Duke at the Cedar Club one snowy Friday night, and we took our annual trip to the dells for some winter fun!
Last week school started along with our regular practice schedule.  This upcoming weekend marks the start of matches for us as we take on two D-1 teams.  On Saturday we play Northern Illinois Universtiy at the Boylan Tennis Center in Rockford Illinois at 5pm.  We then have a quick turn around and play Detroit Mercy at 9am in Janesville at Premier Tennis and Fitness.  We hope many of you can come out and cheer us on for those matches!
The following weekend the men have another big challenge.  On Sunday, Feb 9th we face the #3 ranked team in D-3 Washington University at Western Racquet Club in Green Bay at 9am, and then at 3:30 we take on another Division I opponent UW-Green Bay.  The road does not get any easier after that.  On Feb 15 we play in Ohio against another national powerhouse Kenyon at 10am followed by a 2pm match against Earlham.  Then on the way back on Sunday, Feb 16 we have a showdown with down against one of our rivals Kalamazoo College at 2pm
This early schedule will toughen us up as we have several more nationally ranked opponent on the mens tennis schedule and an intense spring break trip, and we are hoping to return to the NCAA tournament in May if we can work our tails off and have another solid year.
The women do not have their first match until March 7th (against Hope College at PTF) because of their extensive fall schedule in when they went 10-0 and won the conference title for the 7th consecutive year.  The womens schedulewill be quite challenging as well as they will be competing in  the Midwest Invite (for the top 8 teams in the Midwest), have an intense spring break trip, and pariticpate in the WIAC AQ tournament for a chance at another berth into the NCAA tournament as well.  If all goes well, the women could have 15 or so matches this spring!
Now it's time to get to work!  GO WARHAWKS!