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SIU hosts the Saluki Fall Classic

The SIU women's tennis team will host Southeast Missouri State, along with Eastern and Western Illinois, in its first home event of the season today and Saturday.

Junior Maria Blanco will lead the Salukis at the No. 1 spot. She won seventh place at last weekend's Missouri Valley Conference championships and is ready for the competition.

"I'm familiar with the courts, so I like it," Blanco said about playing at home. "I'm also nervous...but I'm always hyper, so that should help."

Rather than working her hyperactivity out through talking on a long bus ride as Blanco said she usually does, she'll be able to expel it on the tennis court.

Blanco's manic energy will be needed against Western Illinois. Three Western women placed in their last event, the Truman State Invitational, on September 18. The two-week respite for Western will do nothing to dampen their hopes for another victory.

Peter Bong, the voluntary assistant coach for the Salukis, said despite the small number of teams at the tournament, no favors will be granted.

"At every competition, every team has one thing in mind: winning," Bong said.

The tournament will start with doubles matches that are vital confidence boosters if won, according to Blanco, who will be teamed with freshman Amanda Taillefer.

A junior and freshman working together is a common theme for the women's tennis team, with three upperclassmen and four collegiate newcomers. The Saluki women will rely on the potent mixture of experienced juniors and eager freshman to repel the attack on their home court.

Bong said the team chemistry is a plus for the Salukis. Blanco agreed, adding that the freshmen seem to have no fear.

"They don't seem to get nervous at all," Blanco said. "They just come out and play."

The fearless confidence exhibited by the freshmen is fed by the seemingly boundless enthusiasm of head coach Brett Bridel. Bridel sat on the sidelines of Thursday evening's practice, yelling out encouragements.

Bridel seems to come alive on the tennis court, and Blanco said he never fails in uplifting the team's spirits and putting them at ease.

"He always cracks jokes," Blanco said. "And when he tells us how to do something, he actually does it to show us."

After a day of classes, Bridel's jumpstart will energize the Saluki women for a weekend of competitive tennis against three teams, in Bong's words, hungry to win.