ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The spring season for Griffon Tennis is set to begin this Friday with the team already 1-0 and ready to build off of last year's first winning record in a full season since 2016. 

Missouri Western is locked into the No. 4 spot in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, the same place they finished in 2020-21 with a 12-6 record. The Griffons were possibly a win over rival Northwest Missouri State University from heading to the NCAA Tournament. To begin the fall season, MWSU tore through Truman State University 7-0 on Oct. 8. 

Friday First

The Griffons will play William Jewell College (5-4) on Friday at 4 p.m. in St. Joseph at Genesis Health Club, a team they've beaten in their last three encounters. First-year head coach Alejandro De La Torre expects the Cardinals to put up a fight after last season's 6-1 Griffon win, even after their 7-0 loss to Northwest on Feb. 18.

"I'm definitely expecting them to be stronger," Coach De La Torre said. "It's kinda like a similar theme to us where they have all-around similar levels based on the ratings of the UTR."

Leaders Down the Line 

Speaking of similar levels, Coach De La Torre views his squad sharpens each other, putting them all on the same page in his eye. The Griffons bring back seven familiar faces like All-MIAA Second Team No. 1 doubles players Anya Chavez and Ioanna Lathouri, who went 12-4 together last season. Chavez finished the fall portion of the season at No. 18 in the Central Region Singles rankings.

Isabella MacGibbon and Chavez finished No. 4 in Central Region Doubles. Meanwhile, Claudia Iglesias and newcomer Esther Güemes finished No. 7 in the Central Region Doubles rankings. 

Other fresh faces besides Güemes on the team include Ellie Messenger and Anaís Peralta Criado. Güemes comes hot off the heels of a 13-2 singles run and 14-2 doubles record at Christian Brothers University in 2021. Peralta Criado transfers from DI South Carolina University while Messenger looks to make her mark as a freshman. 

Even though Lathouri — who is also All-MIAA Second Team in No. 4 Singles — won't be available this weekend with an injury, Coach De La Torre says she's been a leader at practice. Not only is she stepping up, but the entire team is too.

"I don't feel like anyone has to tell anyone what to do," Coach De La Torre said. "Everyone knows what they're doing, what they want to do and everyone is on the same page."

Laser-Focused on a New Legacy

Coach De La Torre says his team is like iron sharpening iron, forging a new foundation for MWSU Tennis. Even though this team saw three-straight losing records from 2015-2019 — excluding the canceled COVID season of 2020 — this year's program plans to remember the past but reclaim their winning ways with this year's motto. 

"I think if I had to put it in one word, you will probably be legacy," Coach De La Torre said. "They want to build that legacy and they want to be that team that's not just another team in the conference that finishes sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth. It's a team that is respected. It's a team to pay attention to."

The Griffons also play Cowley County Community College (6-3) on Saturday at 10 a.m. back at Genesis Health Club. The Tigers recently lost 6-1 to Cameron University on Feb. 21.

2022 MIAA Women's Tennis Preseason Poll

1. Central Oklahoma (8) – 64

2. Washburn – 52 

3. Northwest Missouri (1) – 51 

4. Missouri Western – 46 

5. Nebraska Kearney – 34 

6. Northeastern State – 30 

7. Newman – 23 

8. Emporia State – 16 

9. Fort Hays State – 8 

(first place votes)

Coaches Are Not Allowed to Vote For Their Own Team

Central Region Singles

1 - Mae Canete (Central Oklahoma)

2 - Christine Canete (Central Oklahoma)

3 - Adel Abidulina (Central Oklahoma)

4 - Grace Chadick (Central Oklahoma)

5 - Florentia Hadjigeorgiou (Augustana)

6 - Marta Torres Rodriguez (Washburn)

7 - Tizia Brocks (Central Oklahoma)

8 - Vera Alenicheva (Northwest Missouri)

9 - Melisa Becerra (Nebraska-Kearney)

10 - Julia Aliseda Anton (Northwest Missouri)

11 - Skye Royall (Southeastern Okla. State)

12 - Grace Dodd (Harding)

13 - Maria Popova (Northeastern State)

14 - Mulan Kamoe (Henderson State)

15 - Alexis Bernthal (Nebraska - Kearney

16 - Daniela Baez (Arkansas Tech)

17 - Margarita Chouliara (Augustana)

18 - Anya Chavez (Missouri Western)

19 - Dana Issabayeva (Newman)

20 - Lea Grinburg (Arkansas Tech)

Central Region Doubles

1 - Mae Canete/Christine Canete (Central Oklahoma)

2 - Laura Arce Vieyra/Gabriela Jancikova (Augustana)

3 - Adel Abidulina/Nikki Boyar (Central Oklahoma)

4 - Anya Chavez/Isabella MacGibbon (Missouri Western)

5 - Florentia Hadjigeorgiou/Aleksandra Kistanova (Augustana)

6 - Sara Gonzalez/Vanessa Cozamanis (Southeastern Okla. State)

7 - Claudia Iglesias/Esther Güemes (Missouri Western)

8 - Romane Britt/Grace Dodd (Harding)

9 - Dana Issabayeva/Isabela Bifano (Newman)

10 - Mulan Kamoe/Georjemah Row (Henderson State)