Mavericks Now to Open Season Sunday
Jan 21, 2022 | Women's Tennis
Omaha has a chance to set the tone for its season in familiar surroundings.
The Mavericks, who will now begin their spring slate Sunday at Milwaukee after their scheduled opener with Minnesota State on Friday was postponed, will play two of their first three matches at home.
Omaha coach Adam Summitt expects all 11 players on his roster to get an opportunity to display their talents early on. The Mavericks host Northern Iowa and Wichita State after Sunday's trip to Milwaukee.
"I'm excited to get started," he said. "Everyone's going to get a chance to play a match. It's a chance for everyone to get their feet wet and get those first match jitters out of the way. That's going to be big."
Summitt returns most of his lineup from last season, welcomes back graduate Natalie Lorentz and adds freshman Keegan VanPelt to the fold for the spring. Seniors Madison Gallegos and Ines Absisan will be back near the top of the Maverick lineup along with freshman Alexia Di Giulio, who a had a strong fall.
Behind them, a number of other players should contribute to a team that Summitt believes has balance.
"With the group we have, we're very deep," he said. "One through 11, everybody can play. When we have to sub somebody in, we're not losing any level bringing players off the bench into our top six."
Omaha has about five weeks of nonconference play with which to prepare for its Summit League slate. The Mavericks were picked to finish sixth in the eight-team league, which adds St. Thomas this season.
Matches with Creighton and three Missouri Valley Conference teams await Omaha in February. Those challenges will allow Summitt to get a good feeling about his squad and how to attack league matches.
"My goal is that by Feb. 26, when we go to Denver, we have the lineup shaken out to where we have the six best players in singles giving us the best opportunity to win and the three best doubles teams give us a doubles point," he said. "We've never been picked high. A lot of people never really give us credit, and that's just fuel for the girls and myself. We have stuff to prove this year."
The Mavericks, who will now begin their spring slate Sunday at Milwaukee after their scheduled opener with Minnesota State on Friday was postponed, will play two of their first three matches at home.
Omaha coach Adam Summitt expects all 11 players on his roster to get an opportunity to display their talents early on. The Mavericks host Northern Iowa and Wichita State after Sunday's trip to Milwaukee.
"I'm excited to get started," he said. "Everyone's going to get a chance to play a match. It's a chance for everyone to get their feet wet and get those first match jitters out of the way. That's going to be big."
Summitt returns most of his lineup from last season, welcomes back graduate Natalie Lorentz and adds freshman Keegan VanPelt to the fold for the spring. Seniors Madison Gallegos and Ines Absisan will be back near the top of the Maverick lineup along with freshman Alexia Di Giulio, who a had a strong fall.
Behind them, a number of other players should contribute to a team that Summitt believes has balance.
"With the group we have, we're very deep," he said. "One through 11, everybody can play. When we have to sub somebody in, we're not losing any level bringing players off the bench into our top six."
Omaha has about five weeks of nonconference play with which to prepare for its Summit League slate. The Mavericks were picked to finish sixth in the eight-team league, which adds St. Thomas this season.
Matches with Creighton and three Missouri Valley Conference teams await Omaha in February. Those challenges will allow Summitt to get a good feeling about his squad and how to attack league matches.
"My goal is that by Feb. 26, when we go to Denver, we have the lineup shaken out to where we have the six best players in singles giving us the best opportunity to win and the three best doubles teams give us a doubles point," he said. "We've never been picked high. A lot of people never really give us credit, and that's just fuel for the girls and myself. We have stuff to prove this year."
Players Mentioned
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