The Simpson College men’s tennis team battled cold weather conditions on March 28 against Illinois College. Despite a loss of 7-0, Simpson continues to grow as they hold a 3-11 overall record, and a 2-4 record at home.
The match also carried added significance for junior Blane Wallace, who returned to the courts following his near-fatal ATV accident.
Wallace said being back was a major step for him.
“Technically, I’m probably around 70-80 percent (healed),” Wallace said. “I’ve only practiced for about a week since spring break, so I’m still a little rusty. But it felt good getting out there and playing, it felt a little bit like being back to normal.”
Simpson faced challenging elements through their matches, with cold weather followed by strong winds. Sophomore Darek Kayser said it was something both teams had to adapt to.
“You just have to deal with it,” Kayser said. “You can’t really wear gloves, and both teams are playing in the same conditions, so it’s an even playing field.”
Head coach Matt Price said though the scoreboard did not reflect it, the Storm competed well against a strong opponent.
“I thought we competed hard,” Price said. “We played a team that we knew was going to be good, and we handled the elements. We learned some things as well.”
Simpson found one of its brightest moments in doubles play, as Senior Grant Love and Freshman Hudson Christie secured a 6-4 win.
The Storm roster features a number of underclassmen, but both Price and Wallace highlighted the development the younger players have shown. They mention how it has been a major plus to the team so far.
“These freshman have been doing really well,” Wallace said. “They’re holding their own out there. Collegiate sports are more competitive, but they’ve been improving and working hard”
Price said the team’s focus moving forward is to build a strong foundation through daily practice improvements.
“We want to get one percent better every time we step into practice,” Price said. “It’s not about how hard we hit, it’s about being consistent and playing the game the right way.”
Wallace added that the team is remaining optimistic about what they can accomplish, both for this season and next.
“We feel really good as a team,” Wallace said. “We want to compete, have fun and try to do some damage in the conference.”
As the season continues, Simpson will look to turn its progress into results. The Storm’s next home match is scheduled for April 15 against Nebraska Wesleyan University.
