With the tennis season beginning, men’s head coach Scott Linn said he is confident his team is ready to step up, be leaders and take its season far. Preparation for the season started in the fall when the team played in tournaments and held individual practices.

“We play four tournaments in the fall, but they are all individual-based. In the spring is our true in-season, because it is team competition. Every fall they get to play three or four tournaments, and it gives them an opportunity to compete. It gives me an opportunity to see how they are going to do in a competition. It gives them something to work for in the summer,” Linn said. 

Linn uses the fall season to build his players’ skills and strengthen the team bond.

Germano Setti, general business sophomore, echoed Linn’s statement adding that the fall is for bringing the team together because they will need each other in the spring.

“In the fall, we focus on getting better. We focus on getting fit. It’s a moment to focus a lot individually, and at the end of the fall, it is more about getting everyone together because when we start the season, we all need each other,” Setti said.

The bond for the team is strong going into the 2024 season. With many returning players and the addition of a few new players, Linn says he has high hopes for his team.

“The goal is that I have a whole bunch of problem-solvers, a whole bunch of leaders. That value of being a part of a family. That’s the part that makes college tennis special. The beauty of college tennis is that you get to be a part of a team. You get to work together for something,” Linn said.

Linn’s expectations for his team are straightforward and are similar to what every coach expects their team going into a season.

“I expect us to compete really well. I expect us to leave it all on the court. I expect us to value playing for Midwestern State and value playing for their team and family, and the athletic program at a high level,” Linn said, adding, “We returned a lot of players. We have some great young players in our program. It’s going to be a fun year. If the teams are successful, it allows room for growth. We have a lot of talented players on our team.”

The Midwestern State men’s tennis team will open its 2024 season with a scrimmage against the Cowley College Tigers on Friday, Feb. 8.