Friday, January 21
Spokane, Wash.
11 a.m.
Gonzaga University
vs
Seattle
From the Court to the Classroom, Zags Men's Tennis is at the Top of Their Game
1/20/2022 9:35:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The Bulldogs open the spring season this Friday at the Stevens Center
The beginning of the Gonzaga men's tennis spring season is surrounded with an excitement and a buzz with the schedule kicking off this Friday at the Stevens Center against Seattle University. After one of the strongest falls in program history, the Zags look to continue the success into the spring.
During the fall season, the team had plenty of success racking up seven fall titles, highlighted by junior Matthew Hollingworth and sophomore Sasha Trkulja competing in the Fall National Championships as a doubles team. The duo made it all the way to the super regional finals gaining the invite to the Fall National Championships.
Their success during this fall run helped propel them to the highest ranking in program history, starting the season as the 25th ranked team in the nation. This marked the highest ranking since Sam Feit/Hollingworth in 2020, when they ranked 33rd.
"As a new addition to the team this year, I have been blown away with how easy I have fit in with the group of guys that we have and how supportive the environment is," graduate student Tom Hann said. "We all push each other really hard. We are very competitive and want the best for each other, which just creates a really selfless environment, which is nice to be part of. We are all really pushing to be top contenders in the conference this year and hopefully qualify for the NCAA Tournament later this spring."
Overall, the Zags finished the fall slate with at least one bracket win for every non-ITA championship tournament and multiple Zags had success in the ITA fall tournaments. Trkulja was invited and made a run in the singles tournament in the ITA All-Americans tournament while Arthus de la Bassetiere, Oliver Andersson and Hollingworth all made it to the ITA Northwest Super Regionals. Trkulja moved on to the round of 16 and de la Bassetiere made a run to the semi-finals.
"We are enormously proud of our team for their collective efforts this past semester," assistant coach Cesar Vargas Rodriguez said. "Our results on the court represent the best fall campaign in program history, and the team also performed at an equally high level in the classroom. This speaks volumes about our shift in team culture. The focus was to empower each individual to make choices and have ownership over the results. It's clear that this shift has yielded impressive results, and we look forward to seeing what the spring season has in store for the program."
Off the court, the Zags showed up in the classroom as well last fall posting a 3.56 team GPA. On top of this, three Zags — Hollingworth, De La Bassetiere and Trkulja — made the Dean's list, which is given to students with a GPA 3.50-3.84.
Another four Zags — Oliver Andersson, Martin Bats, Theo McDonald and Leon Roider — made the president list, which is given to students with a GPA over 3.85. All four on the president's list have a 4.0 GPA. Theo McDonald, the lone senior on the team, is looking to finish his collegiate career with a 4.0 GPA and is trying to reach Valedictorian for the 2022 class.
"I am super proud of this team," McDonald said. "We competed super hard this fall and excelled on and off the court. It's been great to see all the newcomers transition smoothly and become part of the Zag family."
More than in the classroom, the team gave back to the community of Spokane, volunteering with Catholic Charities in the fall. They helped low-income seniors and disabled adults by yard cleaning.
Along with some other athletes in the Gonzaga community, McDonald and Andersson are the men's tennis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives who help with organizing community outreach volunteer opportunities. Trkulja is in the Student-Athlete Leadership Institute where he was selected to participate in the developmental program. Their goal is to improve student-athletes as mentors and leaders on their team.
"On the first day I arrived, I felt instantly welcomed here," freshman Arthus de la Bassetiere said. "Everybody from the team did a really good job to help me and make me feel comfortable. Coming from France, my English was not very good, and that made a little bit challenging my first semester in engineering. However, I have already made improvement after just one semester here. The fall semester was more focusing on the individual part of tennis. That's why I am really excited to start the spring season — fighting for the team, with the team — that's what I like the most in this sport. I know that all of the guys from team come from a different country, and even with the difference of culture, I think we all feel part of the Zags family."
The Zags start the season this Friday, January 21, at 11 a.m. as they take on Seattle University and Nevada at the Stevens Center. The spring slate will continue on Saturday, January 22, at 10 a.m. against Montana State.
"All the guys are super excited to compete this weekend. We have a tough schedule this year, but we are all pumped to rise to the challenge," McDonald said.
You can watch this weekend's matches here and you can keep up with them anytime on Twitter and Instagram @ZagMTennis or at GoZags.com.
During the fall season, the team had plenty of success racking up seven fall titles, highlighted by junior Matthew Hollingworth and sophomore Sasha Trkulja competing in the Fall National Championships as a doubles team. The duo made it all the way to the super regional finals gaining the invite to the Fall National Championships.
Their success during this fall run helped propel them to the highest ranking in program history, starting the season as the 25th ranked team in the nation. This marked the highest ranking since Sam Feit/Hollingworth in 2020, when they ranked 33rd.
"As a new addition to the team this year, I have been blown away with how easy I have fit in with the group of guys that we have and how supportive the environment is," graduate student Tom Hann said. "We all push each other really hard. We are very competitive and want the best for each other, which just creates a really selfless environment, which is nice to be part of. We are all really pushing to be top contenders in the conference this year and hopefully qualify for the NCAA Tournament later this spring."
Overall, the Zags finished the fall slate with at least one bracket win for every non-ITA championship tournament and multiple Zags had success in the ITA fall tournaments. Trkulja was invited and made a run in the singles tournament in the ITA All-Americans tournament while Arthus de la Bassetiere, Oliver Andersson and Hollingworth all made it to the ITA Northwest Super Regionals. Trkulja moved on to the round of 16 and de la Bassetiere made a run to the semi-finals.
"We are enormously proud of our team for their collective efforts this past semester," assistant coach Cesar Vargas Rodriguez said. "Our results on the court represent the best fall campaign in program history, and the team also performed at an equally high level in the classroom. This speaks volumes about our shift in team culture. The focus was to empower each individual to make choices and have ownership over the results. It's clear that this shift has yielded impressive results, and we look forward to seeing what the spring season has in store for the program."
Off the court, the Zags showed up in the classroom as well last fall posting a 3.56 team GPA. On top of this, three Zags — Hollingworth, De La Bassetiere and Trkulja — made the Dean's list, which is given to students with a GPA 3.50-3.84.
Another four Zags — Oliver Andersson, Martin Bats, Theo McDonald and Leon Roider — made the president list, which is given to students with a GPA over 3.85. All four on the president's list have a 4.0 GPA. Theo McDonald, the lone senior on the team, is looking to finish his collegiate career with a 4.0 GPA and is trying to reach Valedictorian for the 2022 class.
"I am super proud of this team," McDonald said. "We competed super hard this fall and excelled on and off the court. It's been great to see all the newcomers transition smoothly and become part of the Zag family."
More than in the classroom, the team gave back to the community of Spokane, volunteering with Catholic Charities in the fall. They helped low-income seniors and disabled adults by yard cleaning.
Along with some other athletes in the Gonzaga community, McDonald and Andersson are the men's tennis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives who help with organizing community outreach volunteer opportunities. Trkulja is in the Student-Athlete Leadership Institute where he was selected to participate in the developmental program. Their goal is to improve student-athletes as mentors and leaders on their team.
"On the first day I arrived, I felt instantly welcomed here," freshman Arthus de la Bassetiere said. "Everybody from the team did a really good job to help me and make me feel comfortable. Coming from France, my English was not very good, and that made a little bit challenging my first semester in engineering. However, I have already made improvement after just one semester here. The fall semester was more focusing on the individual part of tennis. That's why I am really excited to start the spring season — fighting for the team, with the team — that's what I like the most in this sport. I know that all of the guys from team come from a different country, and even with the difference of culture, I think we all feel part of the Zags family."
The Zags start the season this Friday, January 21, at 11 a.m. as they take on Seattle University and Nevada at the Stevens Center. The spring slate will continue on Saturday, January 22, at 10 a.m. against Montana State.
"All the guys are super excited to compete this weekend. We have a tough schedule this year, but we are all pumped to rise to the challenge," McDonald said.
You can watch this weekend's matches here and you can keep up with them anytime on Twitter and Instagram @ZagMTennis or at GoZags.com.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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