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Tiger tennis in action at home
9/25/2008
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
No long hours on the highway for the Fort Hays State University tennis team this weekend.
And that suits Tiger coach Brian Flax just fine.
"We are excited about not going on the road 11 hours to Iowa, and five to Denver," Flax said.
Fort Hays will be in its home opener 2:30 p.m. Friday at the FHSU courts, against Newman University. The Tigers are home again Saturday, against Colorado Christian University at 9 a.m.
Flax returned just two players off last year's team. He is used to having a few new faces each year, but this fall there are more than a few.
"You have a couple freshmen new every year," Flax said. "You can concentrate on those kids.
"But when you have a whole team of new kids ... just stay positive.
"I'm also enjoying watching the improvement," he added.
Flax was unsure of his lineup for this weekend. Freshman Brittney Shea will be at No. 1 singles, with freshman Kelsey Bigando at No. 2 singles. Flax was still mulling over his choices at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 singles. He will probably go with freshman Amanda Henkel at No. 4 singles.
At No. 1 doubles will be Henkel and Bigando, with Shea and freshman Krista Lindsey at No. 2 doubles.
Flax's choice for No. 3 doubles -- as well as some singles spots -- will hinge on how healthy some of his players are. One of them is a transfer, sophomore Alexis Crowther, who is battling a foot injury.
Flax said freshman Valerie Harris, who played for Hays High School, has shown improvement and might be at No. 6 singles.
"Valerie Harris from Hays has done a good job," Flax said. "Competition level is a whole another level from what she is used to."
Flax has seen several players show improvement, including Shea, a former prep standout from Amarillo, Texas.
"Her game has improved a lot since two weeks ago," Flax said. "She's learning how to play the college game."
In the mix at No. 3 doubles is freshman Kayla Jarvis.
One returner, sophomore Kelly Smidt, has been playing No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles. The other returner, sophomore Jennifer Lamb, is out this fall with a back injury; Flax hopes to have her available for the spring season.
Fort Hays went 1-2 in Denver last weekend. The Tigers lost to Metro State 9-0 and beat CSU-Pueblo 5-4 on Friday, then lost 9-0 to Mesa State on Saturday.
Flax expects Newman and Colorado Christian to be competitive this weekend.
"They are teams similar to us, fairly young," Flax said. "It's going to be some tough matches.
"Now, we don't have the ability to overlook them," he added.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| SB | 03/08 | Fort Lewis | W 5-4 |
| BB | 03/07 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 13-7 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 16-4 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | W 3-0 |
| MB | 03/05 | Emporia State | L 65-61 |
| BB | 03/05 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 10-3 |
| WB | 03/04 | No. 15 Emporia | L 72-66 |
| WB | 02/28 | No. 12 Emporia State | L 87-80 |
| MB | 02/28 | Emporia State | W 94-47 |
| SB | 02/28 | Quincy | L 6-0 |
| SB | 02/27 | Mo Southern | W 9-3 |
| SB | 02/27 | Missouri S&T | L 8-3 |
| SB | 02/27 | Drury | W 17-10 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 17-0 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 3-2 (10 inn.) |
| BB | 02/26 | Mo. Western | W 12-8 |
| BB | 02/26 | Missouri Western | W 11-10 |
| MB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | W 69-60 |
| WB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | L 78-74 |
| MB | 02/21 | Mo. Southern | L 76-57 |