Fort Hays State University tennis was picked ninth in the Mid-America Intercollige Athletics Association Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday. The Tigers finished the fall portion of its season with an overall record of 5-2 and look to build on that entering the spring, which includes 10 MIAA matches and four non-conference matches.FHSU finished ninth in the conference in 2013-14, just one win shy of grabbing a bid to the MIAA Tournament. FHSU looks for three seniors to finish out their collegiate careers strong in the spring, which includes Camille Caron-Bedard, Brittany Ricci, and Michelle Miller. Sophomores Reinette Strydom, Katie Hipp, and Raven Dick, along with freshman Jessica Johnson, look to step up their game to back up the seniors at the top of the lineup.
Caron-Bedard finished the fall 4-1 in singles play as the No. 1 player on the team, despite fighting through a few injury issues. She has been ranked in the region individually in the past and was unbeaten in the fall in dual meets. FHSU also found great success at No. 3 doubles in the fall with the team of Johnson and Miller. They also were unbeaten in dual meets.
The spring season gets under way on Friday, March 6, when the Tigers welcome Central Oklahoma for a MIAA dual in Hays.