[Tennis] Tennis opens spring season on Saturday against Oklahoma Baptist

It won't be an easy task, but Josh Molino nonetheless is eager to see how his Kansas Wesleyan tennis teams stack up against a quality opponent.

 

The Coyotes open the 2019 spring season with a road dual Saturday against Oklahoma Baptist, a perennial power in NCAA Division II tennis. The match will be played at the University of Oklahoma indoor tennis facility in Norman, starting at 1 p.m.

 

Molino's in his first season as KWU's coach after replacing longtime coach Bob Warkentine, who retired after last season.

 

"We had a great fall, tough schedule," said Molino, who was director of junior tennis at Genesis Health Club before coming to Wesleyan. "We did well, we worked hard. It was a transition period for us just based on coaching and players and getting used to things and a different regime."

 

Molino said there have been some adjustments for the athletes with the coaching change.

 

"The difference is the ability to connect with them and be able to motivate them in a different way," he said. "The age difference in today's player means a lot."

 

Molino has a veteran men's squad with six returning players from last year. The group is led by seniors Michael Moody (SR/Midwest City, Okla.), Mario Rincon (SR/Bogota, Colombia) and Luckian Campos (SR/Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

 

"It's been a challenging four or five weeks just getting everybody back in tennis shape, but it's been a pleasure," Molino said.

 

One player who has impressed early on is Luis Soto (JR/Santo Domingo, Dominican Repub), who was 11-2 in 2018.

 

"He was our guy in the fall who had some big wins against Rockhurst," Molino said. "We're going to put him at the top."

 

Moody, who was 14-6 last spring, will follow Soto at No. 2 singles. Rincon (7-5) will play No. 3, Felix Diaz (JR/La Guaira, Venezuela) (11-7) No. 4, Shingi Chingaya (SO/Wylie, Texas) (6-12) No. 5 and Campos (1-8) No. 6.

 

Soto and Diaz are the No. 1 doubles team with Moody and Rincon at No. 2 and Kyle Rice (SO/Topeka, Kan.) and Rodrigo Vera (SO/Lima, Peru) No. 3.

 

Molino assisted former Bethany coach Logan Palenske last spring and Palenske is Molino's assistant in 2019.

 

"The KCAC is loaded," Molino said. "I helped Logan a little bit and saw what it takes. We're not going to be the most talented, but we're going to be the hardest working.

 

"Every conference match is going to be tough and we've got to go one point at a time. You can't take anyone lightly, everyone has players, everyone's deep. We're feeling really good and looking forward to getting to double digit wins and see if we can get in the conference championship."

 

Depth is a concern on the women's team with five players on the roster.

 

"I think the most important thing we've done is come together as a team and really working on that," Molino said. "Showing up and being accountable is a big thing that we talked about in the preseason."

Newcomer Zofia Selwesiuk (FR/Wroclaw, Poland) and veteran Brianna Mendoza (SO/Balch Springs, Texas), who was 10-9 last season, had productive fall seasons.

 

"Zofia played really well," Molino said. "She had a little bit of a lingering injury but is back healthy.

 

"Bri has been fantastic. She hasn't missed one practice and has almost been adopted on the guys' side. She's always with them and playing and working hard."

 

The top returning player is Paola Vargas (SO/Santa Cruz, Bolivia), who was 13-6 a year ago while playing No. 1 singles.

 

"Vargas is ranked 48th and is a top 12 player in our region," Molino said. "She could have a breakout year, but it just depends on her showing up and being intense and focused. She can play with anybody."

Newcomer Gia Bryant (FR/Lyons, Kan.) and Salina product Jessica Smith (SO/Salina, Kan.) will see plenty of duty as well.

 

"Bryant has been working really hard on her game and Smith is a local girl from South. Really tough in doubles," Molino said.

 

Vargas will play No. 1 singles this weekend with Selwesiuk at No. 2, Mendoza No. 3, Smith No. 4 and Bryant No. 5. Vargas and Selwesiuk the No. 1 singles team with Bryant and Smith at No. 2.

 

"A lot of the teams are built on depth," Molino said. "We've got a stand out stud at No. 1 and it's just kind of weathering the storm for us and being able to play our way into matches.

 

"The conference is really good. We're going to try and improve each time we get on the court, get better toward the end of the conference and try to sneak into that sixth spot and see what we can do."