The Sam Houston State University tennis team is hitting its stride for the 2019 season.

With five matches under their belt the Bearkats hold a 3-2 record, with their most recent decision being a win over University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).“These next four [matches] we want to win them all,” Head Coach Rob Hubbard said. “But everything is about getting better each match. We learned a lot playing two nationally ranked programs in Houston and Rice last weekend. We still have things to improve on, and these next four matches we want to keep winning as much as we can, but making sure everything is preparing us for March.” 

The win over UTSA was career victory number 300 for Hubbard.  He took over at the helm for the Bearkats in July 2016 and has led the team to the conference tournament in each of his first two years at SHSU after the program failed to do so in the four years prior to Hubbard’s arrival.  

With four matches left until the start of conference play, the Bearkats look to build momentum in order to fight for a Southland Conference title this spring. They look to do that with sophomore Sahaja Yamalapalli playing the number one match and redshirt junior Ema Barkovic playing the number two match.The team looks to continue its winning ways as they play the University of North Texas Eagles Feb. 8. 

The Bearkats will be on the road until conference play opens up March 1 against the Nicholls State University Colonels.