Men’s and Women’s Tennis Preview

The 1998 spring tennis season is just getting underway, but both the men’s and women’s teams have been able to sharpen their performances for this weekend’s meets.

The SIUC men’s team opens its spring season Saturday against Vanderbilt University and Murray State University in Nashville, Tenn., while the women’s team faces its second road trip against Murray State University and Eastern Michigan University in Louisville, Ky.

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The Salukis men’s team last competed the weekend of Feb. 6 in an exhibition tournament at Indiana University. Opponents included Indiana, the University of Kentucky and Clemson University.

We lost more than we won, men’s coach Brad Iftner said. We had a few wins here and there, but what encouraged me most was we fought for every point. We made our opponents beat us.

Vanderbilt, who is ranked in the top 50 nationally, swept both the University of Evansville and the University of Tennessee-Martin 7-0 Feb. 6. Iftner knows that Vanderbilt is a strong favorite, and he hopes to use that to his team’s advantage.

They are feeling the pressure to beat you, said Iftner. We are just going out to play as hard as you can play and not worry about the score. We are just going to go out and fight and see what happens.

The SIUC women’s tennis team continues its season against Murray State University and Eastern Michigan University Saturday after a strong Missouri Valley Conference victory over Creighton University last weekend in St. Louis.

SIUC struggled early last weekend, losing 5-4 to both Oral Roberts University and St. Louis University. The Salukis were able to improve their mental focus and aggressiveness in the two losses before claiming the 8-1 victory over Creighton.

We have a good physical foundation, women’s coach Judy Auld said. Our mental toughness will come weekend after weekend with more competition.

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Senior Sanem Berksoy finished last weekend 3-0 in singles competition and only needs 10 more wins to pass Maureen Harney (119) as the SIUC’s all-time winningest player.

Freshman Keri Crandall also made it through the weekend with a 3-0 singles record, and she teamed up with Senior Helen Johnson in doubles competition for a 3-0 record for the weekend.

There will be no pressure on me to repeat my performance, said Crandall. I am just taking one match at a time, and whatever happens, happens.

The SIUC men’s tennis team travels to Nashville, Tenn., to battle Vanderbilt University and Murray State University Saturday.

The SIUC women’s tennis team travels to Louisville, Ky., to take on Murray State University and Eastern Michigan University Saturday.