Mesa Legend - SPORTS - Despite inexperience tennis teams hope to have solid season

February 21, 2006
SPORTS
Despite inexperience tennis teams hope to have solid season

Kimberly Bryant
Mesa Legend

Men’s Tennis

The MCC men’s tennis coach, Becky Opoien, highly anticipates what is to be a “powerhouse” season. With several matches already under their belt, the team hopes to be playing into May, when the national championships occur.
Seven of the nine team members are freshmen, but Opoien showed confidence in her inexperienced squad. “Two of our guys are returning from last season. We got some strong recruits in and with that, we are expected to stay (with) the conference.”
She added that their goal for the season is to “be competitive at nationals and rank in the top 10.”
It would be adding to the great success the MCC men’s tennis team has had in recent years. “We won the regional conference three out of the last four years. We were also undefeated three out of four years and came in 3rd place overall last year,” Opoien said.
As for who will be headlining the team this season, there are several players Opoien pointed out. “Bryce Silva is a freshman from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a strong lefty. Greg Peck, a freshman from Red Mountain High School has a strong serve and a big backhand. He also has a lot of competitive tournament experience. The team is held together by our captain, Brian Lockwood from Mesquite High School. He excels especially in his strong leadership style.”
The men are prepared to show that their big hearts and strong serves will lead to the overall success of the team.
“Tennis is an individual sport. However, [these young men] have bonded and gelled together. We have formed a complete team atmosphere. They are here not only to play for themselves, but for their school and for each other. This season, we have a lot of depth and a lot of talented players as well,” Opoien added.

Women’s Tennis

With the MCC women’s tennis team already underway, Coach Penny Powell summed up the 2006 season, stating, “We have a very competitive team. I expect us to do well this coming season.”
New faces will make up a majority of the team since only one player is returning from the 2005 squad. And the women will have strong competition coming their way. “Scottsdale (Community College) was voted the strongest team coming back,” Powell said. However, she does not underestimate the talent on her team, “[my] girls have a lot of depth and are overall a very strong group.”
In the past, the women’s tennis team has won numerous regional tournaments and moved onto nationals almost every year and Powell expects no difference this season.
The team will be aiming for the national tournament in May, which requires them to qualify at the mid-April regional tournament.
They finished second in the conference’s regular season last year, placed third at the regional tournament, and advanced to nationals to take 12th overall.
Leading the team from the number one position will be Brittany Guerrero, a freshman from Westwood High School. Other members of the team are Grizelda Celaya, Kristina Narano, Rochelle Perkins, Anna Wan, and Morgan Weatherby
With new talent and a previously impressive record to back them, the women’s tennis team is looking forward to a successful season.
“We have a brand new team. They are young, fired up, enthusiastic about what’s to come, and are more than likely expected to improve. I think we may surprise a lot of people. It’s going to be an interesting season,” Powell affirmed.