by Aaron Hunter
Staff Writer

This years men’s and women’s tennis teams appear strong, and they will compete as the most diverse team in the NWAACC.

SCC’s tennis teams will take on this season with players from Germany, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, China, and Africa. With these players, Tennis

Coach Eric Moujtahid-Webster claims the men’s team has talent similar to that of the 2006 team which placed second at the NWAACC championships.

“The guys look very good, they are as talented as the team from ’06,” said.

Webster. “They have the potential to win it all, but they haven’t proven themselves yet.”

The women’s team looks to come back much stronger than last season, and hopes to be the best women’s team that Webster, now in his fourth year at SCC, has coached.

“A lot of these women come in as seasoned high school players, whereas in the past we’ve had to recruit a lot of them from the P.E. classes,” said Webster.

Key players for the men’s team include sophomore Wes Abney, who has the best chance at becoming the number one player for the team, as well as sophomore Francis Roque, and Mitchell Chavez.

“Any of our top three or four players can be number one, so the depth is really good this year.” Webster said.

From the women’s side, SCC’s number one singles player is freshman Kari Fiske, a recruit who went 24-0 for Shorewood high school in the Wesco Conference. Their returning number one player from last year is Maasa Tadokoro, who will most likely be the number two player this year. The third key player for the women is freshman Raquel Fahnbullah.

“We have three solid women on the team, and have a little more depth on the team than last year, as well as a full squad which is committed,” Webster said.

The men’s team will ride this season based on their confidence, as they have their eyes set on the NWAACC championship, with a winning attitude. The girl’s side is similar with the top players relying on their confidence gained from their successes in high school.

Webster doesn’t see many weaknesses on the men’s side, except for the failure to attend classes and meet grading requirements in order to maintain eligibility.

“Even though last years team had many returning players from the championship team, this years team has more depth, and there is no dissension,” Webster said.

One of Webster’s favorite things about this year’s team is that he has the opportunity to coach the most multi-ethnic team in the conference.

The women’s first match is at 1 p.m. on April 11 against perennial powerhouse Bellevue Community College, who has won the conference championship the last five years.

The men’s first game is at 1:30 p.m. on April 16 against Skagit Valley.