For the upcoming spring season next year, Bellevue College Athletics department have added a Men’s Tennis team which will be holding tryouts in February.
That’s not the only big news for the Athletics Department regarding tennis. Aditionally, the Women’s Tennis team placed first at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College tournaments last weekend. This is their ninth first place victory at the NWAACC, continuously holding it from 2005 to 2012 and regaining their championship once again for 2014.
Being undefeated in league play all year, the team also played four-year schools for better match play. Head Coach Jason Chapman explained that setting up matches outside of the league is “for better competition and to prepare for the NWAACC tournaments for the year.” Although they came close but never beat a four year school, the tactic obviously paid off well when the team brought a Bulldog victory back to BC.
Although the tennis team only held one singles title and one doubles title, they managed to gain the right amount of points to ensure their team title, even against Spokane’s four singles and two doubles titles.
Rixing Xu dominated her matches in both singles and doubles with partner Kristy Brauston even with an opening loss, thoroughly defending her 2013 Baden Player of the Year title. Xu once again took the number one singles position by scores of 6-1, 6-0.
Xu’s titles weren’t the only accolades that the team came home with; Head Coach Jason Chapman was named NWAACC Coach of the Year. Coach Chapman was given the title after bringing the BC team back on top after the only second place win in nine years that occurred in 2013. Chapman refers to the title as “an added bonus” but states that “it doesn’t mean anything to me.” For Chapman “it is all about the team win.”
Back on top, the future of women’s tennis is looking good, especially with five of seven girls from the team staying on and a few new faces that will be introduced in the spring. The team has stayed undefeated throughout the league matches, and for next year Chapman predicts that they will continue to stay undefeated. “It’s always the goal, always the plan,” he explained.
Official practices do not start until February and league matches will begin March 1st but get ready to cheer on BC’s Women’s and now Men’s Tennis.
And if any BC students are interested in trying out, contact head coach Jason Chapman at 425-452-4287 or e-mail him at jchapman@bellevuewa.gov.