The Elizabethtown College men’s and women’s tennis teams are hoping to court victory this spring season that starts on Saturday, Feb. 22 versus Lancaster Bible College.
The Blue Jays played numerous matches in the fall, but the majority of their season is up and coming this spring. The women played two matches in the fall, losing to Susquehanna University one to six and losing to Wilkes University two to five. The men played two matches as well, losing to Susquehanna three to four and losing to Wilkes one to six.
Senior Sam Langer saw progress in the last season, and hopes to build off that momentum into this season. “We’ve experienced what it takes to compete and win, and that growth has strengthened our mindset,” Langer said. “With the added experience, better depth in our roster and a renewed sense of belief, we’re in a great position to turn last year’s improvement into something even bigger this season.”
As the lone senior on the men’s team, Langer hopes to leave behind a program that is stronger than when he joined the Blue Jay squad. “More than just wins, I want to see our team compete with confidence, fight for every match and believe in our ability to beat tougher opponents,” Langer said. “Personally, I want to make the most of every match, enjoy my time with my teammates and walk away knowing I gave everything I had. If we can look back at the end of the season and say we left it all on the court, that will mean just as much as any record.”
Langer’s teammate, Stefanos Billis, also saw progress from the team, going from one and 11 in the 2022-2023 season to six and nine in the 2023-2024 season. “I personally have noticed that a lot of our team has improved from last year. We gained a few good players, and the ones returning have come back stronger,” Billis said. “I think one of our collective goals is to try to improve our record from last year as a team. Moreover, everyone on our team is striving to get better. This shared motivation helps us in our practices because ultimately, we’re there to help each other.”
On the women’s side, first-year Hannah Walker is excited to get to represent the Blue Jays for the first time. “Once I got the opportunity to try out for the team, I thought it would help me to prioritize my health in college but would also be a great way to meet new people coming in as a first-year,” she said. “I had a really good experience with tennis in high school and wanted to continue that throughout my undergrad.”
Walker believes that the team’s inclusivity and positive atmosphere will be a key benefit for them leading into this spring season. “Everyone genuinely takes the initiative to build each other up, which has really brought us all closer together,” Walker said. “I always look forward to practice because I know we’re all able to get along and have a good time!”
But, what is a team without a coach? Langer trusts in head coach Michael Anderson to guide the team where they need to go in order to succeed. “Our coach has been a huge part of the improvement we have seen and created an environment where we feel comfortable communicating and having fun,” Langer said.
The Blue Jays will play a total of 10 matches throughout the spring, with seven of the matches being Landmark Conference competition. The first match versus Lancaster Bible College will be hosted at home in the Bowers Center at 9 a.m on Feb. 22.
