STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS DOUBLES TROUBLE Tennis standouts helped the team reach new levels of success. Built on hard work and intense practice, the men's tennis team faced tough opponents and leaned on the team's younger players in its 2017-18 season. The team, led by Head Tennis Coach David Redding, gained recognition in the Great American Conference (GAC) and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region Tournament and were the first team in the Harding history to play in the tournament finals. "That group of six guys really came together as one," Redding said. "They weren't just six players together on the tennis court; they did a lot of things off the court to build relationships and to be a part of each other's lives, and that was just great to see. They were there for each other, encouraged each other, and that really got us through the season." Contributing to the team's successes were two standout players, Spanish-born junior Alejandro Sendra Palacios and French-born freshman Morgan Salvan. Sendra earned the Second Team All-GAC honors award and finished 16th in the ITA Central Region's final ranking. Salvan earned First Team All-GAC honors and finished the season as the GAC Freshman of the Year and ITA Central Region's Rookie of the Year. These honors and awards were due to the team's consistent practice. Sendra noted that the team pushed each other to perform at a higher level. "We are all very close, even though each practice is a battle," Sendra said. Staying true to their team philosophy, the men triumphed in their doubles matches. The duo ofSendra and Salvan made a run in the conference tournament and defeated Oklahoma Baptist 8-2 in the semifinals and won against Southeastern Oklahoma 8-6 in the finals, which ranked them 23rd in the nation. As successful as Sendra and Salvan were, some obstacles were hard to overcome. One of these obstacles was adjusting to life in the United States. Coming from Spain and France made certain adjustments more difficult. "In France, I never trained every day in tennis," Salvan said. "That was a big change coming to Harding and training daily. But now, I have seen the positive results, and I want to practice all the time." Sendra noted similar thoughts and described another aspect of change. "Being so far away from your family is always difficult," Sendra said. "You have ups and downs, and [that] is when the team plays a role as a family." Despite the success of the team, they continued to strive for perfection and increased excellence in future seasons. Both Sendra and Salvan wanted co remain victorious, building off their past experience through continued determination. "It feels great co have won all those awards, but I am looking forward to next season to play hard and hopefully earn the conference tide," Salvan said. Sendra, like his doubles partner, Salvan, reiterated the same principle. "Our goal this next season is to be ranked top twenty in the nation, and to get the championship tide as well," Sendra said. story by Emily Hook & Morgan Taylor Junior Arisa Takanashi serves against Nicholls State on March 31, 2018, at the Harding University tennis complex. Takanashi finished the 2017-18 season with First Team All-GAC honors. I photo by Sterling McMichael Senior Carlos Crisostomo Olavarria prepares aforehand swing in a match against Northwest Missouri State on March 17, 2018, at the Harding University tennis complex. Harding defeated Northwest Missouri State 5-4. I photo by Sterling McMichael In a match against University ofArkansas-Fort Smith at the Harding University tennis complex on April 10, 2018,Freshman Morgan Salvan reachesfor a volley. Harding swept University ofArkansas-Fort Smith 9-0. I photo by Sterling McMichael 216 ..
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