After finishing with a record over .500 for the first time since 2011, Missouri tennis is looking to once again improve its game. With the return of senior Bea Machado Santos, the team has high hopes of making this season the best yet.
Santos and Missouri tennis will kick off the regular season Sept. 18 in Kansas City at the Mizzou Invitational.
Santos had her best collegiate season last year, recording a 42-33 overall record and topping the season by earning second-team all-Southeastern Conference honors and the ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. Although the Portugal native had a rough start to her junior season, she was able to make a dominating comeback to finish the season strong.
While facing Florida last spring, Santos handed SEC Player of the Year Brooke Austin her first singles loss of the season. After defeating Austin, Santos beat nationally ranked Andie Dikosavljevic of Auburn in singles and Andie Daniell and Erin Routliffe of Alabama in doubles play.
During her freshman campaign at Texas Tech, Santos went 26-11 overall and went undefeated in doubles play against Big 12 opponents. After transferring, Santos improved by her sophomore year at Missouri, where she went 30-24 overall, accumulating the most wins by a Mizzou tennis player that season.
Now, as a senior, Santos is ready to leave her mark on Missouri tennis in her final season.
“[I’m] trying to show our freshmen how we work hard here at Mizzou and leave a legacy,” Santos said.
Missouri ended its 2016 season with a 16-12 overall record, the team’s best record in years. Although Santos is a leading force for Missouri tennis, new talent and leadership is stepping in as well.
Xavier transfer Amina Ismail and junior Brianna Lashway have the experience to help Santos and Missouri tennis to a successful season.
“[Our team has] chemistry and lots of great talent,” Santos said. “We have been bonding because we know how much being together and trusting each other counts, especially when we start playing other SEC teams.”
After coach Sasha Schmid resigned in July to coach at her alma mater, Iowa, associate head coach Colt Gaston was named the new interim coach.
With changes in the Missouri program and new talent coming in, the Tigers are taking on a new atmosphere for the upcoming season. The change could be exactly what the Tigers need, especially for Santos.
“Bea has gone from doing what’s best for her to changing things and going out of her comfort zone,” Gaston said. “I saw a champion starting to be born.”
Santos said she was close to being named an All-American last season, and she is preparing hard for upcoming competitions.
“It’s easy to get tired, but I just have to keep my attention on the details,” Santos said. “It’s something I did very well last year.”
If Santos can improve on her junior season, Missouri tennis has a fair shot at a successful season and will likely send Santos back to the NCAA Tennis Championships.
_Edited by Peter Baugh | pbaugh@themaneater.com_
