EMPORIA STATE TENNIS TO SPEND SPRING BREAK IN ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA

Women's Tennis | 3/10/2020 10:00:00 AM

Emporia State Men (3-1, 0-0 MIAA-GAC)
vs. Harding (12-1, 0-0 MIAA-GAC)
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Russellville, Ark.
at Southern Arkansas (3-2, 0-0 MIAA-GAC)
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Magnolia, Ark.
at Oklahoma Baptist (4-5, 1-1 MIAA-GAC)
Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Shawnee, Okla.

Emporia State Women (3-0, 0-0 MIAA)
at Arkansas Tech (5-6, 0-0 GAC)
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Russellville, Ark.
at Southern Arkansas (3-1, 0-0 GAC)
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Magnolia, Ark.
at Oklahoma Baptist (4-5, 0-0 GAC)
Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Shawnee, Okla.
 
SPRING BREAK ROAD TRIP
The Emporia State tennis teams head south to Arkansas and Oklahoma for a three match road swing over spring break.
 
THE COACH
Les Stafford is 3-1 with the men and 3-0 with the women in his first season as the head coach at Emporia State. He has spent the last 15 years as the head tennis pro at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kan.  He is a United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Certified Pro and has taken junior players to regional and national level competition. He spent 14 years as the head coach of the women's program at Wichita State from 1990-2004 and was a four-time conference coach of the year for the Shockers.  He went 178-143 in dual match play with four conference tournament championships and one regular season title. Stafford was a four-time NAIA National Tournament qualifier during his career with the Hornets. He went 20-5 in singles while going 20-6 in doubles in 1979.
 
A LOOK AT THE HORNET MEN
The Hornet men are 3-1 on the season and are undefeated in the spring portion of the schedule. Theo Belmonte, Andy Graf, Cameron Keinholz, and Anton Leavanovich are all 3-0 in singles play. Belmonte and Kleinholz are 3-0 at #3 doubles.
Luiz Maia was named the MIAA-GAC North Division Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week on March 5 after winning at #1 singles and #1 doubles in the Hornets match against William Jewell.
This is the first year the MIAA and Great American Conferences have joined up for consolidated schedule.  The four members of the MIAA will make up the North Division while the five members of the GAC will make up the South Division of the partnership.
 
A LOOK AT THE HORNET WOMEN
The Emporia State women are 3-0 on the year and have not lost a set during singles or doubles so far this spring.
 
KNOW THE FOE
Men
Harding is 12-1 on the year and have won six in a row since their lone loss at Drury.
Southern Arkansas is 3-2 on the year with a win over #13 Southwest Baptist and a loss to #12 St. Edward's.
Oklahoma Baptist is 4-5 on the season with a 1-1 record in the MIAA-GAC.  They defeated Newman and lost to Northwest Missouri
Women
Arkansas Tech is 5-6 on the season and have lost five of their last six. They have gone 1-1 against the MIAA, defeating Missouri Western and losing to Northwest Missouri.
Southern Arkansas is 3-1 on the season with a win over MIAA member Northeastern State in their last outing before this week.
Oklahoma Baptist is 4-5 on the year with a 2-2 record against the MIAA.  They defeated Missouri Western and Newman before losing to #22 Northwest Missouri and Northeastern State.
 
UP NEXT
The next action for the Emporia State men and women will be on Friday, March 20 against Northwest Missouri. First serve at the EHS Courts is set for 11:30 a.m.