Tennis team ready to avenge loss at Troy

The FAMU men’s tennis team will continue on in the MEAC Round-up against Troy University in Troy, Ala. this Saturday.

The Rattlers have a score to settle when they take on Troy this weekend. They were defeated last year but were triumphant three times prior.

“Troy is a ranked team. They beat us last year but we beat them three times before,” coach Carl Goodman said. “This is going to be a tough match.”

The Rattlers are currently ranked in the top 80 percent with a season record of 14-4. The team continues on strong and is on the right track to the top. The team lost four matches, three of which were ranked schools as well.

“We are strong and solid but they’re grounded and we have to do are thing out there,” Goodman said.

The team has played against competitive teams like South Alabama, University of Louisiana Lafayette and Nicholas State University thus far.

Last weekend the tennis team played Jackson State and came out victorious with a final score of 5-2.

The team’s preparation comes from the practice they got from playing close to five matches over spring break. They also have been working on perfecting their strokes, not getting to a slow start, getting adequate amount of rest and just having fun during the match says the coach.

“We try not to do anything different because we were playing really well,” Michael Moore said. “When everyone is relaxed we play our best.”

The team seems to be looking forward to the upcoming match. They have been practicing hard and strategizing on ways to improve for the matches to come.

“We have been running 10 laps around the pond and around campus,” Levan Clark said. “No let-ups this week, we know it’s going to be a tough match.”

The Rattlers have six matches plus three conference matches left for the season. They are expected to go up against Troy (Saturday), Southern Mississippi (Sunday), South Carolina State (next Saturday), Lamar University and then South Carolina State again in the finals.

Top players in the MEAC conference are Levan Clark, Michael Moore, Chidi Gabriel and Takura Happy who are still undefeated.

The Rattlers are confident that if they continue with the current routine they will come out with a win this weekend.

“Ready for the challenge and hopefully we play our hardest and come out with the win,” Moore said.