Bahamian female tennis players set for college action

Bahamian collegiate tennis player Abigail Simms, playing for the Indiana Tech Warriors, recorded a 4-5 win/loss record in singles at first flight and was 7-4 in doubles last spring before the season was cut short due to the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Simms made history for women’s tennis at her school, being one of three Warriors players who earned national rankings in the Oracle ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Women’s Rankings.

Simms, who is now a sophomore, was ranked at number 38 in the nation in 

singles, which was the highest individual ranking for the Warriors. Warriors’ Head Coach Brock Orlowski stated how big this was for the college and how meaningful it was considering the focus and mental aptitude that was needed due to COVID-19.

In January, the Warriors were picked to finish second in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Preseason Poll. They were able to secure two matches in the fall and won both to start the 2020-2021 season with a 2-0 record.

The Warriors are scheduled to compete 15 times this spring with their first match being on the road at Bowling Green on February 5.

Lauryn Daxon, another Bahamian collegiate tennis player, who is now a senior for the Missouri Valley Vikings, will start her season on February 19 against Missouri Western. The Vikings also had their season cut short last year due to the pandemic, and were unbeaten at 3-0 at that point.

Daxon and the Missouri Valley College women’s team will start their 2021 spring season by being ranked at No. 23 in the NAIA Women’s Tennis Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Bahamian Sierra Donaldson and the Lee University Flames kick off the year with a match against Tennessee Wesleyan University on Feb 4.

Hannah-Joy Simms, another Bahamian, and the Brescia Bearcats will begin spring play on February 20 against Asbury University.

Bahamian Iesha Shepherd is now a senior with the Jackson State Jaguars. The team experienced two tough opening losses against Jacksonville State and Stephen F. Austin. The team is hoping to record a win when they go up against Southeastern Louisiana on Feb 11.

Bahamian Afrika Smith plays with the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats women’s tennis team, but no season schedule has been released for the Wildcats.

New to the college scene, Bahamian Sydney Clarke is making her mark with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers. She recorded a singles win in straight sets in their last showing. Despite that, the Blazers have experienced two spring season opening losses and are hoping for a win in their next match lineup scheduled for February 6 at Mississippi State. Last season, the Blazers ended the year on an eight-match winning streak.

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) congratulates Abigail Simms on her historic ranking in the national polls for Indiana Tech, and also wish all Bahamian college tennis players well in their upcoming spring seasons. 

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamian-female-tennis-players-set-for-college-action/