Wildcat tennis prepares for first-ever WAC Championships

BEAUMONT, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference Tennis Tournament is set to begin on Friday on the campus of Lamar University, and both ACU tennis teams are looking to make some noise in their first year in the league. 
 
"We are really excited about getting to the tournament, and having both teams there is going to provide great energy and definitely a special experience," Director of Tennis Juan Nuñez said. "Our basketball team showed us earlier this year about the "survive and advance" mentality, and we need to approach this tournament the same way." 
 
Men
The ACU men earned the two-seed after a posting a 5-1 record in league action and a 6-1 mark at Eager Tennis Pavilion. With the top two seeds getting a first-round bye in the six-team playoff, the Wildcats will have Friday off and will await the winner of #6 Chicago State and #3 New Mexico State. The Purple and White are 3-0 against those schools this spring, outscoring them 14-2 along the way. 
 
On Wednesday afternoon, four Wildcats were named to All-WAC Teams, with Dario Kmet and Cesar Barranquero earning First Team honors and Daniel Morozov and Oswaldo Cano following on the Second Team. Morozov and Kmet also made the All-Conference squad as a doubles tandem after going unbeaten together in WAC competition. 
 
"On the men's side, we understand that while the seeding gives us a day off, it really means nothing," Nuñez said. "Our guys are hungry, and we want to end this season with a conference title." 
 
Projected Lineup:
Doubles

1. Daniel Morozov/Dario Kmet
2. Savan Chhabra/Jose Maria Rastrojo
3. Riley Tran/Cesar Barranquero

Singles

1. Daniel Morozov
2. Dario Kmet
3. Tyler Stewart
4. Savan Chhabra
5. Cesar Barranquero
6. Oswaldo Cano

 
Please click here to view the men's bracket. Live results will become available on WACSports.com on Saturday morning. 
 
Women
A year after upsetting the three-seed in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament, the ACU women enter this weekend as the eight-seed and will look to play spoiler once again against top-seeded Grand Canyon. Sylvia Viljoen and Allison Stewart teamed up to go 12-4 in doubles action this spring, while Andrea Guerrero led the Purple and White with 10 singles wins. 
 
"Our girls lost three incredibly close matches this year against conference opponents, and you can see how close they are," Nuñez said. "After playing Tarleton within a point last weekend, they have realized that they can be the best team in the conference." 
 
Projected Lineup: 
Doubles

1. Allison Stewart/Sylvia Viljoen
2. Eva Arranz/Ileana Mocciola
3. Maryjoe Crisologo/Andrea Guerrero 

 
Singles

1. Maryjoe Crisologo
2. Allison Stewart
3. Sylvia Viljoen
4. Andrea Guerrero
5. Ileana Mocciola
6. Paula Garrote 

 Click here to view the women's bracket in full. Live results of the first round match against GCU can be found here.