Nicholls women’s tennis team serves up start of SLC play by hosting Lamar

Early matches have allowed for the Nicholls tennis teams to find their comfort zones, but the intensity takes a big step forward with the start of Southland Conference play.

The Nicholls women serve up the opening of SLC play by hosting Lamar at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex and then take on visiting McNeese at 11 a.m. Monday.

The Nicholls men open up SLC play a bit later when the Colonels play at New Orleans on March 13.

“They’re looking forward to the challenges, but the level of intensity is going to go way up,” Nicholls coach Greg Harkins said. “We’re working hard. The kids are doing what we ask. We’re just looking to claim our stake in the in the conference and do the best that we can. We want to give ourselves a chance to win every match.

“If we can challenge in that top third of the conference, then we’ll be in a position to really push ahead as we get later in the season. We’d like to get out quick and get ahead. We’ve got two home matches this weekend to start out the conference. We’re really happy about that.”

Lui QianYu, freshman, will be playing line 1 for the women.

“Pretty much, one through eight, one through nine, there’s not a whole lot of difference,” Harkins said. “Most of the players are pretty similar. It’s really just looking for consistency and seeing what we can do. Our goal is to get four points and that’s our biggest goal and how we can do that.

“We look at the other schools’ lineups as well. You have to play in order of experience, but also in the way the conference does it. Your line 1 is supposed to be your best and descending order from there. It’s just seeing how we can carve out four points each game. the best out of seven.”

One way to get to those four points is to start out by winning the doubles competition.

“We’ve really been working on doubles a lot,” Harkins said. “One of the big things in doubles, and in the collegiate game, is you only play a set, which is half the length of a regular match. So you’ve got to get out quick.

“We’ve been talking about quick starts, but also in a best of seven series, if you win the doubles point, you only have to be 50 percent in singles. If you lose the doubles point, you’re pushing towards almost 70 percent. It’s a dramatic jump depending on whether you win or lose.  It’s not to say you can’t do it, but let’s get out ahead and let’s get that doubles point and it’s a race to the finish after that. I like the way the lineup are actually falling into place in doubles. “

The doubles lineups have a mixture of youth and experience.

“Right now, we have one of our fifth-year girls, Lea Grinberg, has been playing line 1 with freshman Aada Inna. They are undefeated so far. They have played very well,” Harkins said.

The combination of youth and experience, Harkins said, has given the women’s team some depth.

“We have two freshmen in the lineup who are really making an impact. Lui QianYu on Line 1 as a freshman, we’re asking a lot. Also, Aada Inna from Finland, I’m really impressed. What I like is that we actually have some extended depth that anyone could slide in. If someone’s injured, we can move up or shift a little bit within the groups and anyone can play any line,” the Nicholls coach said.

The men’s side has seen the emergence of Harry Collins and the return of quality veterans.

“Harry Collins has had a breakout season,” Harkins said. “He beat LSU’s line 3, he took another line against Jacksonville State, which they should be a top 75 team. He’s played some solid doubles with our freshman, Kotaro Matsumura. Right now they’re playing line 1, but they can play line 2, they can play line 3. Once again, we’ve got balance, we’ve got experience. We have three all-conference players back with Omar Morsy, Quentin Lamothe – he’s a sophomore – and Antonio Sasso, who’s also a senior.”

The expectations are high this season for the men’s squad, according to Harkins.

“During the regular season (a year ago), almost every match went 4-3 in conference, except for one. The men really feel that they can challenge for a conference championship,” said Harkins. Let’s set the goal high. Let’s set the bar high. Why not go for it?”

But it all begins with the women on Saturday.

“We’re ready to crank it up, so hey, we want as many people out in the stands as possible on Saturday at 1:00. Come on,” said Harkins.