The 16 top college club and intramural tennis teams from the Midwest Section competed at the Midwest Club Sectional Tennis Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, in February. As it was SLU’s first appearance in the tournament, the entire team was surprised to find themselves in the final round, battling to represent the Midwest for Nationals. The SLU team had taken down the big-time teams of Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Oklahoma Christian University and Drake University. The only team standing in their way of the prize was University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The last, deciding match was still on the court. The mixed doubles team-Rachel Tiegs and Dawa Sherpa-had won the tie breaker to win the set and were in the super-tie breaker to take the championship title home for SLU.

Though the opposing team was heavily favored, the relentless doubles pair dominated the super-tie breaker. The whole team rushed the court to celebrate winning the first championship for SLU.

Co-captain Lea Lockhart was quoted in the USTA article, expressing her feelings about the tournament. “We went into it kind of having?tempered expectations,” she said. “Our players were just really solid mentally and really carried everyone through. It was a surprise and a shock to get through those first three. It was a great environment to be in. Everyone played as though they had a responsibility to contribute. Even when we were losing, our team fought tooth and nail for?every game and that made?the difference.”??

Now, SLU club tennis is faced with an even more domineering opponent: fundraising. To get to the National Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., this April, the team needs to raise money to cover expenses. The team plans on raffling gift certificates in the Busch Student Center after spring break. The gift certificates are from restaurants like Vito’s and the SLU bookstore, which has already donated $250.

The club team has their act together on and off the tennis court. When they are not practicing at the Forest Lake Country Club (sometimes until 10 p.m. on Saturdays), they make sure to get involved in the community. They have volunteered in community outreach programs lead by Mark Platt and for the Central Institute for the Deaf. Platt has become the team’s mentor; he has connected them to many resources and helped them acquire valuable court times. The eight members-Nico Gibson, Lyndsey Hohman, Lea Lockhart, Julia Scanlon, Justin Sheehy, Dawa Sherpa, Mike Tabriz and Rachel Tiegs-might be a small group, but they have the determination to take it all the way. So look out for their fundraisers and support SLU club tennis.