Baker University’s tennis teams will kick off their season this weekend with a home match against Tabor College, and many players have high expectations for spring, thanks to their coach.

The teams are coached by Regan Dodd, who is entering her fifth season at Baker.

“I feel like I have learned a lot from our coach,” junior Jamie Lawrenz said. “She always has practice scheduled, and she is, overall, very organized.”

Although Lawrenz is a junior, this is her first season playing for Baker. Previously, she played for Johnson County Community College.

“Regan is different from my old coach,” she said. “I have benefited a lot from her and how she always plans everything out.”

Senior Marti Eidson said Dodd’s coaching style has been beneficial for her as well.

“I came to Baker to play tennis,” she said. “Regan was a big factor in that. She is a lot different than my high school coach, who was an older man.”

Junior Melissa Shank also said that Dodd’s age helps her coach the teams more effectively.

“It’s nice to have a young coach,” she said. “She’s just out of college so she understands us more.”

Although Dodd is young, she has been at Baker long enough to gather some strong recruits. This season is the first year that all of the tennis players are from Dodd’s recruiting classes because she didn’t do recruiting her first year here.

“Our recruiting class is very strong,” Eidson said. “We have been through a lot, both the girls and the guys. We’re more than teammates.”

Eidson also said the team members hang out with each other outside of practice, but try to avoid being together all of the time.

“It’s hard when you are already together five or seven days a week,” she said. “Plus, we travel together for matches so that is even more time.”

The teams have several matches ahead of them this season, but the players said they are confident.

“I think Baker tennis is one of the strongest programs we have,” Eidson said. “We are strong continuously, year after year. We’re always in the conference race.”

Last year, the women’s team placed first in the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season. The men’s team also enjoyed many conference victories.

“I think one thing that Regan does well is keeping both teams even,” Eidson said. “It’s uncommon, but at Baker both the men’s and women’s teams are strong. At a lot of schools, it’s just one.”

The players credit Dodd for keeping the teams strong, but also realizing the players are at Baker for academics first.

“She recruits players that are strong in academics and athletics,” Eidson said.

The players are also rewarded with a scholarship for playing on the team.

“Even though we get a scholarship, you still have to really want to play,” Lawrenz said. “We play year-round, so everyone has to be really committed.”