Sikeston tennis team hoping to continue progress

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON - Like many teams in the area the weather hasn't been kind to the Sikeston's boy's tennis team.

With rain and snow seemingly always in the forecast, the Bulldogs have found themselves in the gym as often as on the tennis court.

That hasn't stopped the squad from continuing to work on improving before their season opening match next Tuesday when they travel to Marion, Ill. to play the Wildcats at 4 p.m.

"It has been a tough start to the season with the weather conditions preventing us from being on the courts as much as we usually are through three weeks of the season," Sikeston head coach Russ Dial said. "However, we have tried to make up the loss of physical activity on the court by sharpening our tactical skills indoors. Maybe this will pay off early in the season by decreasing mental errors which normally occur early in the season due to lack of time to study indoors on strategic skills.

"We have had good practices, both indoors and outdoors, and are excited about the upcoming season. "

After a rough 0-11 campaign in 2013, the Bulldogs saw some progress in 2014 as they picked up a couple wins in a 2-11 season.

They'll be helped in their continued upward trend by the return of their top-ranked player last season, senior Layton Jones.

Jones will be joined on the varsity team by fellow seniors Mark Jones and Colton Dodson as well as juniors Coby McMikle and Anthony Le. Other returning veterans include Edward McClain and sophomore Jordan Wheatley.

Sikeston has a few new additions as well, including a familiar face in senior Adam Smith. Smith played one season two years ago before taking last season off. He'll be joined by sophomore Beau Bryant and freshman Brett Johnson as fresh faces on the team.

Sikeston's Mark Jones returns a shot during a recent practice at Sikeston Public Schools tennis courts. (Chris Pobst photo)

Sikeston's Mark Jones returns a shot during a recent practice at Sikeston Public Schools tennis courts. (Chris Pobst photo)

Though a freshman, Johnson brings experience with him in the form of summer camps and junior league play the past several summers.

"We're now competing at the Class 2, (District 1) level," Dial said. "This will make advancement from district play, both team and individual, more difficult than ever since there are only two class levels in the state. However, we'll continue to make advancement from district play one of our main goals.

"We do have new additions to our schedule that reflect the new district formation and will allow us to get a look at these teams before competing against them in districts."

While more wins are always a goal entering a new season, Dial added that starts with cutting down on mental mistakes.

"We would like to drastically cut down the number of extra shots we gave opponents last season from volleys at the net," Dial said. "(We want to) increase our first and second serve percentages, and play smarter not harder tennis. We expect a consistency in the execution of our skills to produce better outcomes this season.

"We want to advance as a team, or at the very least as individual players, out of our district being competitive during sectional play."