Baylor MT Opens Spring Season with Double-Header at Home

[Hutton, Josie]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Jan. 11, 2025

Baylor MT Opens Spring Season with Double-Header at Home
Bears face off against Lamar at noon and ACU at 6 pm at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center
For more information contact: Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720, josie_hutton at baylor.edu<mailto:josie_hutton at baylor.edu>



WACO, Texas – The Baylor men’s tennis team will open its 2025 season on Sunday at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center, hosting Lamar at noon and Abilene Christian at 6 p.m.



The 2025 season is the fifth under the healm of head coach Michael Woodson, who is just two wins shy from hitting the career 100-wins mark with a dual-match record of 98-37 and five NCAA and ITA Indoor tournament berths.



“It has really just hit me that the season is starting tomorrow, and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Woodson. “With everything we have been hosting as well as all that we are planning to host this spring; it doesn’t really feel like we have stopped to catch our breath. Couple that with an amazing group of young men that are pushing to get better every day and you’re truly able to live in the present.”



Woodson has made Waco, Texas the home of collegiate tennis this spring as the Bears will host a total of 19 matches, along with postseason matches for the Big 12 Championships and the NCAA Team Championships during the 2025 season. Additionally in February, Baylor will play co-host with SMU for the ITA National Indoor Championship, hosting the first through quarterfinal rounds.



“This team is going to go up against the toughest schedule in the nation and I hope our fans are as fired up for what’s ahead as we are,” continued Woodson. “This is a team I am ready to run through a brick wall for. See you all soon at Hawkins Indoor!”



BU is 18-1 in season openers since the 2004 national championship team and is looking to continue the winning streak.



Hosting Lamar in the opening doubleheader for the third-straight year, the Bears look for their 13th-straight win over the Cardinals. With a 12-4 record against UL, Lamar hasn't taken a match from Baylor since 1984.



Bears face the Abilene Christian Wildcats for the seventh time since the beginning of the 2021 season for the second match of the day on Sunday. BU has only allowed two points from ACU since 2017.



BU leads the all-time series against ACU at 19-3, with the Wildcat wins coming in 1981 and 1992.

Saturday's doubleheader is a mirrored replica of the 2021 season opener, the first year under Woodson, where the Bears played Lamar and ACU, winning 7-0 and 6-1, respectively.



Baylor returned eight from the 2023-24 roster, including Marko Miladinovic who led the team with a 22-9 record last season, 12-5 in dual matches. Devin Badenhorst also returns after a successful freshman campaign, going 14-6 in dual matches, 10-6 on Court 3 and 3-3 against nationally ranked opponents.

In the ITA individual singles rankings following the fall season, Badenhorst landed at No. 25, while Zsombor Velcz was named No. 54 and Oskar Brostrom Poulsen at No. 58. The doubles pairings of Miladinovic and Brostom Poulsen rose to an impressive No. 3 ranking. The duo of Badenhorst and Velcz ranked among the top-25, appearing at No. 17.

Woodson bolstered the roster with the addition of Alexandru Chrita, a 2025 spring roster add-on. Chirita is a 21-year-old graduate transfer coming to Baylor after having completed his undergraduate education at home in Romania while also playing professional tournaments. Chirita reached a career-high ATP singles world ranking of 723, and a career-high ATP doubles ranking of 777 – boasting a pair of ITF singles finals, one ITF doubles title, and three ITF doubles finals.



Fans attending Sunday’s matches will receive the 2025 team poster and free burgers in the ACU match and free coffee at the Lamar match.



For the latest news on the Baylor men's tennis team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorMTennis.



- BaylorBears<http://www.baylorbears/>.com -



Josie Hutton | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (FB, T&F/XC, MTEN)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: (254) 709-7720

[signature_2230589939]<http://www.baylorbears.com/>


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