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ScoreboardHendrix W 9-0, W 9-0Christian Brothers W 9-0, W 9-0University of the Ozarks W 9-0, W 9-0Stillman W 9-0LeMoyne-Owens W 9-0, W 9-0Lyon W 9-0, W 9-0John Brown W 9-0, W 9-0Newman W 9-0UAPB W 9-0Abilene Christian L 0-9UALR L 0-7Delta State L 1-8Ouachita Baptist L 0-9GSC TOURNAMENTWest Alabama L 4-5North Alabama L 3-5NCAA TOURNAMENTWest Florida L 0-6togetherAll-Conference performers leadBisons to NCAA appearanceTennisRow 1: E. Mendoza, J. Walters, C. Beach, B. Hemphill, O. Teniyev, D. Little. Row 2: R. Rios, E. Bryant, M.Ruiz, T. Samuel, B. Hoch.workinganyone? Ask that question to seniors Marco Ruiz and OlzhasTaniyev and they would most certainly take you up on that offer.Both Ruiz and Taniyev were selected to the All-Conference teamlast season through their hard work and ability on the tennis court. Theyalso joined the rest of the team in representing Harding at the Gulf SouthConference Tournament in Montgomery, Ala., and at the National Tournamentin Pensacola, Fla.Before reaching the GSC and National Tournaments last spring, the tennisteam got off to a good start in the regular season that included a remarkable15-match winning streak.Men’s tennis Coach David Elliott described both Ruiz and Taniyev asextremely hard-workers and team leaders.“They have a very positive effect on the team,” Elliott said. “Their attitudesand intensity levels are contagious.”While the team benefited from the great examples that its top two players exhibited,Taniyev was quick to recognize the efforts from all of the players.“The rest of the team did so much,” Taniyev said. “Every memberworked really hard and showed so much support to each other, and that iswhat is really important.”This positive attitude and work ethic greatly helped toward the team’sprogress in the post season. The tennis team hadconsistently made it to the GSC and NationalTournaments since the university became DivisionII. Elliott attributed these successes to thequalities of the players.“We’ve had a good tradition here [at Harding]in tennis,” Elliott said. “I think our character isabove the norm at the college level.”Going into these postseason tournaments,Elliott said their aim was simply to be the bestthat they could be.“The only thing we can control is ourselvesand then try to perform [the best that we can]when we get there,” Elliott said.Both Ruiz and Taniyev led the way towardthis goal. With the team behind them and Elliottmentoring and building the young players up, theywere able to succeed and advance to the NationalTournament. There, they faced one of the bestschools in the nation, West Florida. Thoughunsuccessful, they came away with a sense ofpride and hard work.“We try so hard to peak at the end of the yearand I feel like I played my best at the tournament,”Taniyev said.The conclusion to an overall successful 2008season, while satisfying in many ways, also madeboth Ruiz and Taniyev anticipate continuing theirprogress in the next season.“I am really excited about this next season,because in my opinion we have a more solid teamthan we did last year,” said Ruiz.Cody Waitsmen’s tennis 279