Red Raider Tennis Teams Prepare with TTU at Waco Community

By Trevor Hendricks, eLearning Marketing Student Assistant

In the world of sports, the visiting team is considered to be at a disadvantage when entering a rival team's territory. For Texas Tech University at Waco, this is not the case. The Texas Tech Men's and Women's Tennis teams got a home-away-from-home experience when they gathered at the house of Carey Hobbs on the night before their respective games against Baylor University for great food and Red Raider company. What better way to strengthen the bond between Texas Tech and Waco than having a Red Raider dinner where students, alumni and fans get to meet TTU athletes?

Carey Hobbs, a Texas Tech Honorary Doctorate recipient, has long been a Red Raider fan. From the time he and his brother attended the University back in the early 1950's, Hobbs has maintained a strong relationship with the school.

The Texas Tech Women's Tennis team visited Hobbs' home on the evening of April 5. At this dinner, 25 people sat down and enjoyed a chicken spaghetti meal complete with Double T-shaped cookies. "The Lady Raiders were cordial, very intellectual and provided a good mix of conversation topics. They were glad to be there and were happy to take pictures with everyone," said Dr. Snell. The next day, the team went on to beat Baylor with a score of 4-0.

The Texas Tech Men's Tennis team was hosted on April 14. This round of chicken spaghetti, salad and Tech-inspired treats was shared between 45 people. When describing the nature of the men's team, Dr. Snell said, "They brought a different vibe than the women's team. They were competitive and enjoyed talking about tennis." The next day, the team fell to Baylor with a score of 0-4. Dr. Snell stated that, "Even though it may not look like it on the scoreboard, it was a close game volley for volley and I think the team played really well."

In the past, Waco sports fans have favored the longer-established Baylor University, but recent events have given way to a shift in allegiance. This past winter, when the Texas Tech Men's Basketball team played in Waco, Dr. Snell said, "There were a ton of Tech fans in the stadium, so many that I think it made Baylor a little mad." The game ended with Tech on top: final score was 70 to 30.

Beyond this feat, Texas Tech at Waco continues to rally Red Raiders. When asked if an event like this might happen again, Dr. Snell replied, "Yes, this event was successful. Carey Hobbs was a great host and everyone had a great time. I think while we will host the tennis teams again, we may try to incorporate some other Tech sports as well in the future." With this kind of initiative, Texas Tech at Waco can make playing away for athletes feel a little more like home.

 

TTU Men's Tennis team

 

 

TTU Women's Tennis team with Carey Hobbs (middle)