Murray State men and women’s tennis teams plan to rebound at their Feb. 22 match against Lipscomb University.

The men’s tennis team struggled this season since the start. The first match ended with a Jan. 18 ending in a 0-7 loss against the University of Louisville. The team’s most recent match, against the UT Chattanooga, resulted in a 1-6 defeat on Feb. 10. The Racers’ overall record is 0-7 and the team will play the Lipscomb Bisons from the Atlantic Sun Conference in their upcoming match at Kenlake State Park.

“I choose tough teams so they have the opportunity to play them,” said Head Coach Mel Purcell. “We’ve had a really tough opening schedule. Our next match is against Lipscomb and then Bethel and Morehead State. Hopefully, the early part of the season will prepare us for later on.”

Lipscomb is 2-3 so far this season, but winless away from home with a 0-2 record. They are coming off a decisive 7-0 win against the University of North Alabama, but lost to No. 46 nationally ranked 0-7 Middle Tennessee State and 0-4 to No. 40 ranked Vanderbilt earlier this season.

“We’ve played a pretty tough schedules. Some big schools,” Adam Taylor, junior transfer student from Tyler, Texas said. “Individually, the players are getting better. I have not played Lipscomb before. This would be the first.”

Taylor said that home-court advantage does help a little since they don’t have to travel in a van all day.

“The OVC matches are coming up. I think we’ll be able to compete in the OVC this year,” Taylor said. “I have a good serve and forehand, but I can get flat on myself sometimes.”

The team will play Lipscomb at Kenlake State Park at 9:30 a.m. on Feb 22.

 Story by Kelly Farrell, Contributing writer.