MONTGOMERY, Ala.—The Alabama State University tennis teams will begin their third year under Head Coach Anuk Christiansz and excitement abounds for the 2014 teams as they have started preparations for the new season.
“This is my third year here and we have made tremendous progress in terms of the student-athlete that we have gotten here on both sides,” Chrisiansz said. “I feel like now on the guy’s side we have a full roster and we have a full roster on the girl’s side as well. What I really want to do is make a dent in conference play.”
“I have also been one of those coaches that wants to play the toughest schedule possible outside our conference so down the stretch when we are in conference play we will be much more match tougher. So this year I am really looking forward to it and see how well we do.”
Christiansz has seen both programs improve over his first two seasons which have accumulated with the men’s team not only qualifying for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament, but reaching the semifinals in both tournaments.
“I feel like we have a solid core of guys and I can see some really big improvements coming along,” Christiansz said. “These guys are going to be here four years and they are going to graduate and we are building a good base for the program.”
Returning for the men are Jarred Thompson from Johannesburg, South Africa, Stefan Vognic from Belgrade, Serbia and Roderick Williams from nearby Alexander City.
The coaching staff has added five newcomers to the men’s team including three from England; Adam Coyne (Berkhamsted), Ronald Mataba (Hatfield) and Takura Mlambo (Portsmouth). Dylan Cleary hails from Sydney, Australia and Digvijay Singh Narvka is from Mohali, India.
The women’s team has played one to two players down most of the matches over his first two seasons due to injuries and it has slowed the growing process of the women’s program.
During Christiansz first season in 2012 the Lady Hornets finished the season 1-12, but last year they improved their win total from one to four which may not seem like a lot, but they also finished 2-3 in SWAC action.
“We have shown a lot of improvement on the women’s team,” Christiansz said. “We have a full roster and I want to win now and I know we will get there, but we still have a ways to go on the women’s side.”
The Hornets have five players with a year of experience under their belt returning for the women’s team. Arantxia Wijngaarde leads the group. Pauline Denis, Brianna Fairly, Nathalie Lorenco and Melissa Telfer also return.
The three newcomers that dot the women’s roster are Irina Cvijovic and Brankica Orlovic who are both from Serbia and Giovanna Lombardi from Brazil.
“One thing I am really happy about is the grades,” Christiansz said. “Most of the girls are 4.0 students and most of the guys are on the 3.0 Honor Roll so that is very exciting for these teams.”
The Hornets will begin the season on the road at Mississippi State Saturday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. The women will also open the season at Mississippi State, but will play Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. Both teams will open the home portion of their schedules when they host Stillman College on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m.
