The men’s and women’s tennis teams are starting on the right foot this season as they hold records of 7-3 and 6-1, respectively.

All six of the men’s players won their singles and doubles matches against McKendree University on Friday, Feb. 5, registering a 6-0 singles sweep and grabbing the doubles point as well.  The Billikens dropped only one set out of nine matches.

They traveled to Rockford, Illinois to face Northern Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 6, and faced a bit more of a challenge.  SLU dropped the doubles point with a 3-0 loss overall.  They attempted to make a comeback in the singles matches, but fell short by winning only three of the six matches.  They lost 4-3 and were handed their first loss of the year.

However, the men returned to their winning ways when they swept Quincy 7-0 on Feb. 7.  The Billikens did not lose a single set and improved to 6-1.

The women started the weekend against a tough opponent, the University of Missouri, on Saturday, Feb. 6 in Columbia, Missouri.  Mizzou secured the doubles point and closed the door even further on the Billikens with two early singles victories.  However, senior Madison Cook kept the Billikens in the game with a three-set triumph at the number four singles spot, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.  Junior Eleonore Tchakarova fed off her teammate’s momentum to clinch another three-set victory for her team, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, at the number two singles spot.  Freshman Ally Mackenzie also had a victory at the number six singles spot, 6-4, 6-4, but it was not enough, as Mizzou took the final victory at the number five singles spot to edge the Billikens by one match.

The women had a chance to bounce back on Feb. 7 when they faced Quincy and Maryville.  They regained their confidence when they shutout both teams, 7-0, and improved to 7-3 overall.

The women only dropped 11 games overall against Quincy, smoking through their opponents 6-0 in six of fifteen sets played.  Junior Aspen Cervin and senior Madison Cook dominated both of their doubles matches 6-0 over the course of the day.

SLU continued to blow past their opponents when they faced SEMO on Feb. 9.  The women swept them 7-0, and did not drop a single set.  They now sit at 8-3 on the year.

The men are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 13 at St. Clair Tennis Club in O’Fallon, Illinois, at 6:15 p.m. and again on Sunday, Feb. 14 against IUPUI at 8:30 a.m.  The women face Arkansas State, also at St. Clair Tennis Club, on Feb. 17 at 12:00 p.m.