Men's Tennis | 01.28.2022
LEWISTON, Idaho – The LC State Tennis season kicks off on Saturday in the Tennis Center when the Warrior women host NCAA Division I Montana in the first match of the season.
Kai Fong enters his 34th season as the head coach of both the men's and women's teams. This season's teams feature a great deal of new talent from around the world.
"Most seasons feel very different due to the rainbow of personalities and cultures on the rosters," Fong said. "I am thankful we are getting to play. It is a huge bonus that we get to have spectators during our home matches this year."
For the women, it is a young roster with the lone upperclassmen being junior
Elisiva Latu and senior
Kyla Collier. The Warrior women's team spans the globe. Freshman
Beatriz Lambru hails from Spain,
Nikoleta Aleksic is a globetrotter from Serbia, and sophomore
Andrea Cervantes Bustamante's hometown is Mexico City, Mexico.
They also have athletes from Russia, Bhutan, and Australia. There is a mix of local talent as well. Freshman
Emily Schelbert is from Graham, Wash., and freshman
Lina Boylan comes to LC State from Boise, Idaho, though she has competed in Egypt.
The women will look to top returners Collier and sophomore
Alexis Maison.
"Kyla, the lone senior is in an unfamiliar role of being the most experienced player on the team," Fong explained. "She has ventured into the new territory by modelling compassion and empathy to the large group of new players as they blend with the returners. It is fun to see her so capable in a challenging and rewarding position. Her parents, Kevin and Margaret, coaching legends in Bend, Ore., have ingrained very strong values in Kyla. We are on the receiving end of that training.
"Lexi is in a different unfamiliar position of being sidelined while rehabbing a wrist surgery from the previous semester," Fong continued. "She is keeping herself fit and ready for action once she is cleared to return to the courts. Her determination to rebound from the surgery is very commendable. A role model for displaying the right energy when on the sidelines. A valuable team member from the heart of Washington in Yakima."
Similar to the women's team, the men have plenty of international athletes as well as local products. Senior
William Bruchard is from New Caledonia, freshman
Andre Du Plessis makes his home in South Africa,
Itaru Kikuchi hails from Japan and freshman
Daniel Tevez comes all the way from El Salvador.
Warriors from around the region include freshman
Cade Edwards from Richland, Wash., freshman
Austin Swing went to Middleton High school in Middleton, Idaho, and freshman
Austin Gomez is a legacy Warrior from Lewiston. His father played for LC State under Fong in the 1990s.
The men are led by Bruchard and 2021 LCSPY Freshman of the Year
Itaru Kikuchi. In doubles matches last season, both Bruchard and Kikuchi collected a record of 2-0. Senior
Larry Magalasin will also return to the court this year for his final season.
"Even though Itaru is only a sophomore, he has demonstrated a very mature approach to his work ethic in practices," Fong said. "He does not waver much from his focus, which enables him to be a consistent performer. I think that's a habit he cultivated while growing up in Chigasaki, Japan.
"William, one of two seniors, is a cool, calm and collected competitor," Fong added. "His demeanor has had a positive impact on his teammates. They see him responding in the heat of competition with composure. Maybe it is the nature of New Caledonians.
"Larry, another islander from the Pacific island of American Samoa, known more for producing footballers, is a fiery competitor," Fong said of the upperclassman. "His Filipino background, coupled with his mom's home cooking and dad's determination, have fueled his tenacity on the court. Larry will compete until he is literally broken down."
The women open up their season with a doubleheader when Montana comes to town on Jan. 29. They start off the season with five home matches including a face-off with in-state rival College of Idaho on Feb. 3. A trip to Louisiana follows for the LSU Alexandria Invitational where LC State will play four matches in three days from Feb. 24 - Feb. 26.
The Warrior women will hit the court again on March 20 for a doubleheader in Spokane, Wash. to take on Division III Whitworth. To round out the regular season they will host Division I Idaho State on April 3 and Highline Community College April 22 before hitting the road to play Division III Whitman and College of Idaho on April 29 and April 30.
The Warrior Men begin their season with a road trip to Arizona to face NAIA foe Ottawa (Ariz.) on Feb. 3, followed by a doubleheader with Arizona Christian on Feb. 4. LC State then returns home to host both Division III Whitman and Division I Seattle University on Feb. 11.
The next day Lewis-Clark State matches up with another Division I opponent the University of Idaho. Then the men start a string of seven consecutive matches with Division III Northwest Conference opponents as they face Whitworth and Whitman at home to close out February before talking on Pacific Lutheran at a neutral site in Walla Walla, Wash. Puget Sound will travel to Lewiston on March 13 and the following weekend the Warrior men voyage to Spokane for another bout with Whitworth.
The regular season winds down with four straight Division I programs making their way to the LC Valley. First, Sacramento State on April 7, Montana State on April 10, Idaho State on April 14, and Montana on April 15.
"It's never about the divisions as we face strong, quality programs across the board," Fong said. "We have experienced such memorable matches against DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and JuCo. Players will benefit from all sorts of teams and competition as long as they embrace the opportunities. There is so much to gain from these matches. We play almost anyone who wants to play us. We hope to continue to have those opportunities."
