Tennis team working through early struggles

GSU’s tennis team currently sits at 0-4 after a rough January. GSU Athletics/Courtesy photo

The Grambling State University Tennis team returned to action last weekend against the University of Louisiana Ragin Cajuns to start the season.

In tough 0-4 start to the season, the team hasn’t been able to come out on top in their collective matches.

This year’s team is comprised of six members, four of whom are new.  The two upper class returning members are senior Danna Galeano and junior Imperia Martinez-Mora. 

The Lady Tigers hope to have a better season than last year. Coach Kenneth Myers believes with the new preparation methods, and a talented roster, improvement is bound to happen. 

“This team is just as good as last year’s team, if not better,” Myers said.

“Knowing the challenges we are dealing with, putting together as strategic of a plan as we could, and being able to adapt to the practice situation have all been obstacles”

The team will began the season injury free, and hope to remain that way the entire year.  

Last year the Lady Tigers unfortunately finished one spot out of the SWAC qualifications. The coaching staff is confident the squad has improved.

The team faces major obstacles due to not having a home court, which recently became unavailable due to the new intramural construction on Grambling’s campus where the courts were located. 

Louisiana Tech’s and Ruston high tennis courts have become the new practice and game spot for Grambling, but things became even more hectic due to a tornado destroying most of the courts at each school.

The team will have to work with limited court availability for most of the season hoping it will not interfere too much with games and team regulations. 

With just two wins overall in all competitions, one coming from a forfeit from the other team, the group will adjust before taking on the University of Louisiana at Monroe on February 8.

With two weeks preparation, the group will move to erase the early struggles in January and continue the season strong.