Wildcats Cap Spring Break with Big Wins as Coach Hubble Reaches 100 Career Victories
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel University Wildcats closed out a demanding spring break stretch with a milestone moment for head coach Derrick Hubble, who captured his 100th career victory while guiding the Wildcats through one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the NAIA.
Bethel posted several impressive wins during the week, including victories over two nationally ranked opponents, as the Wildcats used the challenging slate to prepare for the upcoming Mid-South Conference season.
"We intentionally scheduled some of the best teams we could find to prepare for conference play," said Hubble. "This group responded really well. To see them compete the way they did and pick up some big wins was great, and reaching 100 wins is special because it reflects the work of a lot of players who have helped build this program."
Dominant Start Against Doane
Bethel opened the week with a 7-0 sweep of Doane (Neb.) at the Mobile Tennis Center on March 8. The Wildcats controlled the match from the start, winning all three doubles contests before sweeping every singles match in straight sets.
Andrej Jovanovic led the charge at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-4 win, while Guillermo Gomez Rodriguez, Gabriel Perini, Kenzo Nishioka, Lucca Nesi, and Marc Altur each added singles victories.
Wildcats Rally Past RV Texas A&M–Texarkana
Two days later, Bethel edged RV Texas A&M–Texarkana 4-3 in a tightly contested match. After dropping the doubles point, the Wildcats rallied behind strong singles play.
Jovanovic set the tone with a dominant win at No. 1 singles, while Gomez Rodriguez battled through a three-set thriller at No. 2. Perini and Nishioka also added key singles wins to secure the comeback victory.
Second Win Over Doane
Later that afternoon, the Wildcats earned another win over Doane, 4-2, claiming the doubles point with victories from the pairings of Jovanovic/Santos and Prado/Gomez Rodriguez.
Singles wins from Gustavo Santos, Lucca Nesi, Guilherme Nomura, and Marc Altur sealed the match and continued Bethel's momentum.
Big Ranked Win Over Mobile
Bethel followed with another statement performance on March 11, defeating Mobile 4-3 in a thrilling matchup.
Jovanovic again delivered a clutch win at No. 2 singles, while Gustavo Santos added another point at No. 3. Mateo Prado secured the deciding match at No. 6 singles, battling through three sets to clinch the victory for the Wildcats.
Conference Win Caps Milestone Week
The Wildcats closed the week with a 4-3 Mid-South Conference win over #22 Cumberland, highlighted by strong doubles play from the teams of Nesi/Perini and Nishioka/Nomura.
Jovanovic continued his standout week with another straight-set victory at No. 1 singles, while Perini rallied to win in three sets at No. 3. Nesi sealed the team victory with a gritty three-set win at No. 6 singles.
The win marked career victory No. 100 for Coach Hubble, a milestone reached during one of the program's most successful stretches against elite competition.
"I'm proud of the fight our guys showed all week," Hubble said. "We faced really strong competition, and that's exactly what we wanted heading into conference play. The team is continuing to grow, and we're excited about where we're heading."
The Wildcats now shift their focus fully to Mid-South Conference play as they look to carry the momentum from a successful spring break stretch into the heart of the season.
Lady Wildcats Battle Through Tough Spring Break Slate as Hubble Reaches 100 Career Wins
The Bethel University women's tennis team wrapped up a challenging spring break schedule this week, competing against several nationally recognized programs while helping head coach Derrick Hubble reach a significant milestone with his 100th career coaching victory.
The demanding stretch of matches was intentionally scheduled to prepare the Lady Wildcats for the rigors of Mid-South Conference play, and Bethel showed resilience throughout the week with several key victories.
Bethel opened the trip with a 5-2 victory over Doane (Neb.) on March 8. After splitting doubles matches, the Lady Wildcats dominated singles play. Sofia Canto, Cloe Casado, Lavinia Anais Karadza, and Giada Ngoc Meneguzzo each earned straight-set victories to help secure the team win.
The Wildcats continued their strong play the following day with a 4-1 win over Doane. Bethel claimed the doubles point with wins from the teams of Camila Barragan Canas and Claudia Gonzalez Pastrana, along with Alejandra Vargas and Meneguzzo. In singles play, Meneguzzo, Gonzalez Pastrana, and Vargas each added victories to close out the match.
Later in the week, Bethel faced several nationally recognized programs, including No. 15 Louisiana Christian, RV Texas A&M–Texarkana, and RV Mobile, competing in tightly contested matches against strong competition.
Sofia Canto continued to lead the lineup for Bethel, earning impressive straight-set wins at No. 2 singles against both Louisiana Christian and Texas A&M–Texarkana. Lavinia Anais Karadza also delivered a thrilling three-set victory against Louisiana Christian in one of the most competitive matches of the week.
Against Mobile, Bethel battled to a narrow 4-3 decision, with Canto, Karadza, and Meneguzzo picking up singles wins to keep the match close.
The Lady Wildcats closed the week against No. 23 Cumberland, where Camila Barragan Canas and Canto secured singles victories in a hard-fought 5-2 final.
Throughout the week, Bethel faced one of its most difficult stretches of the season, but the experience provided valuable preparation as the team moves deeper into conference play.
"This was exactly the kind of week we wanted for our team," said Hubble. "We scheduled some very strong programs because we believe those matches help us grow and prepare for the Mid-South Conference. The team competed hard every day, and I'm proud of the fight they showed. Reaching 100 wins is special, but it's really a reflection of all the players who have helped build this program."
The Lady Wildcats now turn their attention toward the remainder of Mid-South Conference competition, carrying valuable experience from one of the toughest non-conference stretches of the season.
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