The No. 60 ranked Crimson Tide women’s tennis team is back in action this weekend in Waco, Texas, for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s annual Kick-off Weekend against No. 3 ranked Baylor.
“This is a great opportunity for us to go up against a top 5 team early on,” said head coach Jenny Mainz. “We’re so excited to get out there and compete.”
The Tide is thus far undefeated after the 9-all match wins against No. 14 Florida State, No. 30 Iowa and Central Florida over MLK weekend.
On Monday, Jan. 24, Alabama was named top pick to win the SEC Western Division Championship this year, overtaking Mississippi by only one point in the coaches’ poll. Sixty-five points for the Tide earned them the majority vote and the chance to prove themselves worthy of the coveted nomination.
The Baylor Bears have a win to hang on to as well. Baylor played the University of Houston this past weekend and won 5 of 6 singles matches and 2 of 3 doubles duels. The Bears won the faceoff (0-1) 6-1 on Friday, Jan. 21.
The Bears have more than five years worth of highly ranked game play behind them thanks largely to their head coach Joey Scrivano. Last year Baylor spent most of its season ranked at No. 1 in the country and ended its spring season at an impressive 30-3 overall.
The Tide, however, shows no fear in the face of such a consistently ranked team.
“This is what we’ve been practicing for all year,” said Mainz. “We knew who we would play all [of the] fall [season], and we know what kind of effort it’s going to take to play our game.”
The team has been fervently practicing this week and growing more and more excited for the next competition.
“In practice the team really looks fresh,” Mainz said. “From what I see, doubles this year are going to be outstanding. Our teams are working well together and really gelling on the court.”
Given the undefeated status and the enthusiasm for the upcoming event, the Tide’s practices have been right on target, Mainz said. Alabama is confident that they can bring heavy competition to the table this weekend for the Bears.
“I have been looking forward to this match against Baylor since the beginning of the fall,” junior Taylor Lindsey said. “I know that our team is ready to go play them, and I’m expecting big things. I really am.”
The Tide was the last team to be invited to the ITA’s Kick-off Weekend and refuses to hold back in-game. Alabama also has the chance to rise considerably in the ranks if they hold out against Baylor.
The Tide takes on the Bears at the Baylor Tennis Center in Waco, Texas today at 11 a.m.
