The Emporia State men’s tennis team started their spring season in a matchup against Pratt Community College at Kossover Family Tennis Complex on Feb. 2.
ESU started out with a quick lead after doubles with doubles teams Sergio Vera Martin and Mostafa Elbasnaly and Anton Sarunic and Diego Calvo taking 6-3 wins over PCC. Harrison Brown and Harris Kossover also took a 7-5 win to close out doubles play.
The Hornets also picked up four of the total six singles matches, with Anton Sarunic, Mostafa Elbasnaly, Harrison Brown, and Lleyton Fosha all taking a win in singles play.
2024 Preseason Coaches Polls released on Jan. 31 from the MIAA and the Great American Conference have the Hornets men’s team ranked No. 4 in the North Division with 19 total points under No. 1 ranked Washburn with 40 points, No. 2 Northwest Missouri with 33, and No. 3 Nebraksa-Kearney with 23 points.
The Lady Hornets tennis team also started out the spring season with an exhibition matchup against Barton Community College of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
Giovanna Ferreira and Anastasia Pesic would get things started for the Hornets in doubles play, taking a 6-4 win over Barton. The Hornets would then take another doubles win with Lilie Bizourerne and Paige Stranghoner taking a commanding 6-0 win. Doubles team Perla Conde and Sheriden Wichman of ESU would close out doubles play with a 6-2 victory.
The Lady Hornets closed out the match with five out of six wins in singles play with No. 2 Perla Conde winning in three sets, 6-1, 5-7, 1-0. In the three spot, Lilie Bizouerne defeated her Barton opponent 6-4 and 6-2. Gionanna Ferreira, Anastasia Pesic, and Paige Stranghoner would all go on to win their matches respectively.
The ESU womens team was ranked to finish in seventh place in the MIAA conference according to the Preseason Coaches Poll where the Hornets received 19 points. Front runners of the conference consist of Washburn at 56 points and Missouri Western at 55. Rounding out the conference is Newman in the No. 8 spot with 18 points and Fort Hays state with 8 points.
