A sigh of relief can be exhaled by both the men’s and women’s tennis teams as both teams have officially clinched a berth in this year’s Horizon League Tournament.
The women’s team punched their ticket to the tournament later this month in Indianapolis with a 6-1 road victory over Green Bay. Despite all the roadblocks the women’s team faced this year, the Raiders achieved their primary goal.
With multiple injuries and girls not playing 100 percent, few in the league predicted WSU would qualify. Now, the team is focused on improving before the tournament to make as much noise as possible.
The first step may involve getting players suffering from injuries as healthy as possible.
The women’s team followed up their victory over Green Bay with a 7-0 loss to Milwaukee the following afternoon. Senior Taylor Hines was benched for the Milwaukee match in order to rest for the final stretch of the season.
Sophomore Megan McNamara believes WSU will be ready to handle Milwaukee if they find themselves on opposite ends of the court in the league tournament.
“If we have our regular lineup on an outdoor court, that’s going to be more of an equalizer,” McNamara said.
McNamara also said team camaraderie is strong and will help will them play their best.
“This team is so close,” McNamara said. “We want to win for each other and you care more when you’re all great friends.”
As far as the men go, simply coasting into the conference tournament is not an option. The men’s team sits third with a 3-1 conference record behind Green Bay (5-0) and Cleveland State (4-1).
If the men’s team sweeps Youngstown State and Cleveland State this upcoming weekend, the Raiders will clinch second place and a bye in the conference tournament. WSU would then only need to win two matches to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Sean McCaffrey said he was proud of the effort the men showed their last road trip despite losing matches to conference foe Green Bay (5-2) and Marquette (4-3).
Against Marquette in singles competition WSU top player Hayden Joblin defeated Marquette’s best player in three sets, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4. But Marquette’s other players were able to stop the upset bid.
WSU will play Youngstown on Friday at the South Regency Tennis Center in in Miamisburg while the Cleveland State match will be at the WSU tennis courts Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
