Saluki Sports05
Sponsored by 710 BookStore - - - http://www.seventen.com/Tennis conference season starts
Kyle Means
Daily Egyptian
The last weekend of March brings about the beginning of conference play for both men's and women's tennis. Both teams, as stated by their coaches, are adapting to the season's change with a no nonsense approach, knowing that the next month will determine how successful this season will be.
"This is it now," men's head coach Missy Jeffrey said. "Our conference season is starting. This is really important. This is what we've been waiting for all season."
The women start things off by traveling to Evansville. Head coach Brett Bridel expects a close match, and judging by his description of the Purple Aces, they have much in common with the 2-6 Salukis.
"They're kind of an up-and-coming team," Bridel said. "They have really scrappy kids that just battle the best they can and just hate losing, so we're going to have to work hard to beat them."
Though the Evansville match will be the Salukis' first in 19 days, Bridel was encouraged by his team's individual improvements during the break. Bridel, though, will be without Tana Trapani, who re-injured her hip, leaving the Salukis' No. 2 player out indefinitely.
"We're hoping that we can have her for conference, but people will step up if she can't and we're going to go out there and give our all no matter who we play," Bridel said.
The first-year coach goes into his first Valley season with a squad determined to improve on all weaknesses.
"I'm anxious. I'm ready to get it going," Bridel said. "We've got to either step up to the plate and execute or else."
Before an Indiana State trip Saturday, the men will face Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in Carbondale Friday in their first home match, one of only three on the year.
"It'll be nice and special seeing as how its only one of three home matches," Jeffrey said. "We've traveled so much this spring, it's the most we've ever traveled up to this point, so it's nice to have a break where we are not traveling as far."
IUPUI will be the first of three opponents in six days that is followed by an eight-day break. For Jeffrey, this is the biggest stretch of the year yet. Six conference foes follow Murray State March 31st and a fully rebuilt team will be needed to navigate the April showers.
"It'll be four weekends in a row including the conference championships, so yeah, it's coming down to the time that we've been building for," Jeffrey said. "It's got to happen now. It's got to start happening now."
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run newspaper of SIUC, is committed to being a trusted source of information, commentary and public discourse while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester. The Pulse, Carbondale Entertainment Guide, is published once a week on Thursday.Last update: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 7:57:12 PM
Copyright 2009 Saluki Sports05