2008 Woodie Awards
Men hope to make quite a racquet this season
By: David Johns
Issue date: 3/9/06 Section: Sports
The Webster University men's tennis team began the 2006-07 season with an 8-1 loss to Westminster College March 4.
First-year coach Mike Siener wasn't surprised by the results.
"We knew (Westminster) was pretty strong," Siener said. "Every year they're up near the top of the conference, so we knew coming in that they'd be tough to beat."
Freshman Jacob Gossage had the lone victory for Webster, a 7-5, 6-3 decision against Westminster's Hyun Su Hong.
In doubles, Webster went 0-3 for the meet, with the team of
sophomores David Chow and Corey Kuhn being upset for a 9-8 decision.
Siener added that the doubles pairings had been in effect for a very short period of time.
"This was the first time for them playing," said Siener of the pairings. "We want to stick with the match-ups and hopefully by April things will start coming together."
Webster's next match is against Hanover College at 3 p.m. March 11. The match-up will be held at the Webster Groves Recreational Center.
Siener expects his team to fare better against 1-3 Hanover. Siener said part of his optimism can be attributed to the addition of sophomore Alex McGrath to his playing roster.
McGrath transferred to Webster this semester from Bard College in New York, and by match-time he was still ineligible to play for Webster under NCAA rules.
Everything has been cleared for March 11, and Siener expects McGrath to play second against Hanover - a team that Siener and the Gorloks are unfamiliar with.
"I haven't seen them play yet, or the teams they've already faced." Siener said of the Indiana college.
The loss had little effect on the team's optimism, according to Siener.
"Their spirits don't seem to be so down," Siener said. "We've got to strive to reach that level, this lets me know what I've got to do as coach and recruiter."
Siener inherits a team that finished in last place last season and with a largely overhauled roster, but it isn't hard for him to be optimistic about this and future seasons to come.
First-year coach Mike Siener wasn't surprised by the results.
"We knew (Westminster) was pretty strong," Siener said. "Every year they're up near the top of the conference, so we knew coming in that they'd be tough to beat."
Freshman Jacob Gossage had the lone victory for Webster, a 7-5, 6-3 decision against Westminster's Hyun Su Hong.
In doubles, Webster went 0-3 for the meet, with the team of
sophomores David Chow and Corey Kuhn being upset for a 9-8 decision.
Siener added that the doubles pairings had been in effect for a very short period of time.
"This was the first time for them playing," said Siener of the pairings. "We want to stick with the match-ups and hopefully by April things will start coming together."
Webster's next match is against Hanover College at 3 p.m. March 11. The match-up will be held at the Webster Groves Recreational Center.
Siener expects his team to fare better against 1-3 Hanover. Siener said part of his optimism can be attributed to the addition of sophomore Alex McGrath to his playing roster.
McGrath transferred to Webster this semester from Bard College in New York, and by match-time he was still ineligible to play for Webster under NCAA rules.
Everything has been cleared for March 11, and Siener expects McGrath to play second against Hanover - a team that Siener and the Gorloks are unfamiliar with.
"I haven't seen them play yet, or the teams they've already faced." Siener said of the Indiana college.
The loss had little effect on the team's optimism, according to Siener.
"Their spirits don't seem to be so down," Siener said. "We've got to strive to reach that level, this lets me know what I've got to do as coach and recruiter."
Siener inherits a team that finished in last place last season and with a largely overhauled roster, but it isn't hard for him to be optimistic about this and future seasons to come.