Missouri State University Club Tennis Has Strong Turnout

Merrithew said he believes the interest on the competitive ledger is the highest it’s ever been in club history. Only the top four men and women — plus one alternate — can snag spots on the competitive USTA Tennis On Campus squad.

“It’s just amazing to have that,” Merrithew said. “If you don’t have enough players, you just take whoever wants to play. At this point, we get to take the best players. It makes the club better. You have to practice and work harder to be able to get on that team. It pushes everyone forward, and that’s just very exciting to see.”

The MSU Tennis Club practices twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30. Players hit and the team runs drills, while the more competitive players also hone in for upcoming matches or tournaments. The squad is set to participate in the USTA Missouri Valley Tennis On Campus Fall Invitational on October 1-2 in Topeka, Kansas.

“It’s been amazing. I really love the program,” Merrithew said. “It’s all student-led at Missouri State. Everyone before me did a great job. Not only is it competitive, but it’s also very welcoming to people who don’t necessarily play tennis a lot or know how to. Not only is it a place where you can be competitive and win, but you also can make friends. And meet people you might not have met on campus otherwise.”

This holds especially true for Merrithew — a senior finance major — who transferred to Missouri State University after first attending Crowder College in Neosho. While Crowder doesn’t have a tennis program, it was always Merrithew’s intent to play for the MSU Tennis Club after he participated in prep tennis at Carl Junction High School near Joplin. The club has afforded him the opportunity to meet students beyond the business realm.

“I stand by and say the nicest people at MSU play club tennis,” Merrithew said. “I don’t know if that’s true, but I believe it is. Other than that, I love competing. That’s super fun. Especially when you get a good group of people you really enjoy traveling with. It’s probably the last time in my life I’ll get to play really competitive sports with a team like it was in high school.”

Merrithew said club tennis has been his favorite aspect of attending MSU. He credited the club’s officer team for cultivating a welcoming environment for new players, which has resulted in students not only coming out but sticking with it. Merrithew estimated women comprise 40 percent of the team this year, a terrific number that’s been a welcome change for returning female competitors.

“They finally feel like they’re not alone,” Merrithew said. “It’s especially great to see people making friends through the club already. Freshmen getting to know other people. That’s how I know we did a good job. We just want everybody to be able to be friends and not only play a club, but also it goes into their campus life as well.”

With no tennis courts on campus, MSU Tennis Club typically trains at Perry Tennis Courts in Springfield. This fall with the increased numbers, though, the team has frequented Gillenwaters Tennis Complex more regularly. In the winter months, the group hits indoors at Cooper Tennis Complex.

At the end of last year, the tennis club and Missouri State University faculty teamed up to host a student vs. faculty tennis event. Merrithew has been working with Leslie Echols, USTA Missouri executive director, to hold another rendition of that this year. Though the date isn’t finalized, Merrithew said he’s looking forward to it and appreciates all Echols does for his team and USTA.

In the meantime Merrithew is thrilled for the season ahead for the Missouri State University Tennis Club, which he believes will feature a super competitive team.

“It’s exciting to be able to create that team, have practice and mesh with these people,” Merrithew said. “And then say, ‘All right, we’re going to take that, and we’re going to battle against other schools.’ It doesn’t get better than that.”