by Ashlan Williams | Apr 8, 2011 | News Slider, Sports
Friends, family, food and tennis– the makings of a perfect Saturday afternoon on the Lipscomb campus. From 4-6 p.m. Saturday, April 9, the Lipscomb Racquet Club will host its second annual Tennis Block Party at the Huston-Marsh-Griffith Tennis Center. The Lipscomb tennis program will host the free block party that is open to students and members of the community. Head coach Andrew Harris said the event will be open to all ages and levels of ability. “One of the great things about the sport of tennis is that, no matter the age, anyone can participate,” Harris said. “We will have clinics for kids from 4-7 years old all the way up through adults. Beginners, intermediates, and advanced players are welcome to come out.” There will be prizes and giveaways throughout the afternoon as well as free refreshments. Harris said after a positive turnout last year, he hopes to see another big group on Saturday. “Last year we had over 200 people from the community come enjoy the festivities, and we are looking forward to another big turnout this year as well to come and see the Lipscomb Racquet Club,” Harris said. The block party will follow Lipscomb’s men’s and women’s tennis teams’ matches against Atlantic Sun rival Belmont in the Battle of the Boulevard. Match play will begin at 10 a.m., and party participants are encouraged to come early and support the...
by Ashlan Williams | Apr 8, 2011 | Sports
Talent will be tested, conditioning challenged and heart determined Saturday, when the Bisons and Lady Bisons host Atlantic Sun rival, Belmont University, in the Battle of the Boulevard at the Huston-Marsh-Griffith Tennis Center. “This weekend is going to tell us a lot about this program moving forward into next year,” Lipscomb head coach Andrew Harris said. “Both teams have the opportunity to break through into unknown territory.” Both teams are coming off tough losses to Campbell and are ready to close out the season with a bang in their final regular season match of the year. The Lady Bisons were shut out by Campbell last weekend, and their record slipped to 2-7. With Belmont holding the same record, the Lady Bisons have a strong chance at posting their third conference win of the season. “With the ladies, if we are able to come through and beat Belmont this would allow us to finish with three conference wins this spring,” Harris said. “That would be a school record for our women’s team.” Harris said the Lady Bisons are definite contenders to make school history due to their familiarity with the Belmont roster. “What is great going into this match is that many of our ladies played against the Belmont players throughout the fall in the University of Memphis tournament and the Vanderbilt Tournament,” Harris said. “So we are all familiar with one another and I think it will be one of the more exciting matches here all season.” The Lady Bisons fell to Belmont last season 5-2. On the men’s side, the Bisons closed out last weekend with a 6-1...
by Ashlan Williams | Apr 1, 2011 | News Slider, Sports
The Bisons and Lady Bisons head for the Carolinas this weekend to face Atlantic Sun foes USC Upstate and Campbell on Friday and Saturday as the season begins to wind down and the A-Sun tournament nears. Coming out of last weekend, both teams went winless to slide their A-Sun records back two matches. Although their record didn’t see any improvement, men’s and women’s head coach Andrew Harris said there were definitely positive results. “Last weekend was certainly a challenge for everyone,” Harris said. “Between the weather and the matches themselves, our program certainly went through some trials last week. However, it showed both teams that, when they play at a high level and focus on the intensity of the moment, good things can happen.” On the men’s side, two close 4-3 losses last weekend to North Florida and Jacksonville dropped their A-Sun record to 3-4. As they prepare for Upstate and Campbell, Harris said the Bisons will once again need to focus on securing the doubles point and transferring that focus into singles. “With both matches coming up this weekend, the guys definitely know they are going to have to bring their A-game,” Harris said. “They have proven to themselves throughout the year that they can compete with any team. The key right now is winning the doubles point and keeping their composure throughout the course of the match.” After failing to follow through last weekend, Harris said he has high expectations for the two upcoming matches. “They struggled staying focused on the task at hand last week and it cost them,” Harris said. “We addressed it with them...
by Ashlan Williams | Mar 11, 2011 | News Slider, Sports
With their first weekend of conference play tucked away under their belts, the Bisons and Lady Bisons tennis teams are preparing to face the Atlantic Sun’s top competitor, East Tennessee State University on at 1 p.m. Saturday in Johnson City. After picking up wins on both the men’s and women’s side in their opening weekend of A-Sun play, head coach Andrew Harris said the teams are working to improve for ETSU this coming weekend. “Both teams are looking forward to another conference weekend,” Harris said. “After the matches against Mercer and Kennesaw State this past weekend, the teams recognize things we need to continue to work on as well as building on things we did well. Both ETSU’s men’s and women’s teams ranked first in the A-Sun preseason poll and pose a tough challenge for the Bisons and Lady Bisons this weekend. And with Spring Break just around the corner, Johnson City will be the teams’ first stop out of a series of three road matches. Harris said ETSU will bring strong competition to begin their road play. “ETSU has restructured their coaching staff similar to ours this past summer with Yaser Zaatini now overseeing both teams,” Harris said. “Their women’s program last year lost to UNF in the A-Sun finals, and their men’s program has annually been one of the more consistent teams in the country the past five years. This will be our first of three road matches over the next week, so we know we will have our work cut out for us come Saturday.” The women, coming off a successful weekend, picked up their first...
by Ashlan Williams | Mar 4, 2011 | Sports
They’ve been training the last eight months for what will begin today, March 4. With two days of matches against Atlantic Sun foes, the weekend could set the tone for the season, for both the Bisons and Lady Bisons tennis teams. Lipscomb begins the six weeks of A-Sun conference competition by hosting Mercer University at noon Friday at the Huston-Marsh-Griffith Tennis Center. For men’s and women’s head coach Andrew Harris, the most exciting part will be opening up conference play on Lipscomb’s home courts in the great outdoors. “I think the biggest thing for our program right now is being able to finally start playing outside on campus,” Harris said. “Since Jan. 10, we have been practicing inside every night and playing all of our non-conference matches indoors. “So to be able to get outside last week for practice and have our conference matches here this weekend will be a huge boost for us, just from a motivational standpoint.” Both the men’s and women’s teams will begin the toughest portion of their schedule Friday with matches against Mercer before facing A-Sun rival Kennesaw State on Saturday morning. So far this season, the Lady Bisons have posted a 1-5 non-conference record heading into Friday’s opener. Harris said the women’s enthusiasm will help them as they begin conference play. “Our ladies continue to show a lot of heart and courage by coming to practice each night and creating a standard of energy and excitement,” Harris said. “Everyone of our ladies knows that they have a tremendous opportunity this year to set the bar high for the next few years for our...
