"We are coming into the season with a lot of confidence," said Williston tennis coach Wade Stueve.
The Coyotes are coming off a second-place finish in the WDA and a third-place finish at state in 2008. With all of the returning experience, it's quite possible the Coyotes could at the very least match last season's success.
Among the returners are seniors Jordan Nelson and Heath Glenn. The Williston duo won the WDA championship last season in doubles and finished fourth at the state meet.
"We should be pretty tough to beat," Nelson said. "Since we only lose one starter." Doubles play will be a strength of this season's team.
Nelson and Glenn will be Williston No. 1 team. It's likely that Jeff Klevin and Juan Monsalve Wagner will comprise the No. 2 team. The third team will be made of Brook McFarlin and Luke Imsland.
"We're going to be aggressive and get to the net," Stueve said of his doubles teams.
Despite the returning players, Williston doesn't appear to have a leg up on the rest of the conference. Bismarck, Dickinson and Mandan all have several returning players.
"The west is so wide open," the Williston coach said.
A weakness on the team is in singles play.
"If our No. 2 through 4 can play .500," Stueve said. "We will have a real good year."
Nelson will be No. 1 in singles with Glenn as the No. 2. McFarland, Klevin, Monsalve Wagner and Imsland will round out the lineup in that order.
Williston will open the season Friday at Bismarck. The Coyotes will also play at the Minot Round Robin on Saturday.
Notes: Williston's tennis match with Dickinson set for Aug. 27 has been moved to Glendive, Mont. The courts in Williston will not be ready for play then. The match slated for Tuesday against Minot has been rescheduled for Sept. 15 at the Tom and Shirley Davidson Tennis Courts, beginning at 4 p.m.
Comments