Ouachita Stories

In anticipation of their first home match of the season, the Ouachita Baptist University men’s tennis team held a “Tennis Play Day” Sunday, Feb. 1.

The Tennis Play Day was a free tennis clinic for adults in the community, featuring an opportunity for participants to play doubles matches with the student athletes and watch exhibition doubles matches by the team members.

The day started with 45 minutes of instruction and coaching by the team. The participants then divided into groups of four for doubles, with one player from the team joined with three fans. The event concluded with exhibition matches by the student athletes.

“We have a unique sport where the athletes can participate with the fans,” said Craig Ward, OBU men's tennis coach. “It was high-energy and exciting for everyone involved.”

''The day was great,” said Adam Hurst, a senior biology major from Jonesboro, Ark., and member of the team. “It brought people from the community together with the team. It will hopefully bring some fans to our home matches.”

The team will play their first home match against Tyler Junior College on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. after opening their season on the road at Christian Brothers University on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 12 noon.

by Emory Jacobs