The tennis regional appearance is the first in the history of the men's program, which comes on the heels of the Hornets' first SWAC Tournament title in the program's history.  It is a fact that is not lost on Head Coach Anuk Christiansz mind.
 
"When Coach Seman and I got here we knew we had a lot of work to do," Christiansz said.  "To say we went through some hard times during these four years is an understatement, but we knew this time would come.  We were recruiting good players and even better students and the program has gotten a little stronger each season."
 
"Being the first team at ASU to achieve this has been huge for not only the players but the program.  We definitely don't want this to be the first time we get here and we are going to ask the players to work even harder next year and we as a coaching staff are going to work harder to continue to get quality student-athletes into this program.  While we are excited about being here, we are still trying to build a foundation for this program, and the women's program as well, for years to come."
 
Christiansz knows a thing or two about strong foundations.  He was part of eight national titles (7 as a head coach, 1 as an assistant) at nearby Auburn Montgomery.  The foundations he set there are still being felt as the Warhawks continue to be one of the top men's and women's tennis programs in the NAIA.  It was also at AUM where Christiansz set a foundation for his program's to be not only one of the top on the courts but in the classroom as well.
 
"I have always been a student-first coach," Christiansz said.  "The importance of an education cannot be impressed on the student-athletes enough.  We always had one of the top team grade point averages at AUM and this season we have shown that progress at ASU as both of our teams received the Highest GPA team awards for the small teams.  I am as proud of what both of these teams have accomplished in the classroom as much as what they have accomplished on the court.  They have taken pride in their classwork and it really shows."
 
The Hornets will enter the regional winners of 10 of their past 11 matches.  The other teams in the regional along with ASU and Ole Miss are Georgia Tech and Columbia.
 
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