Reagan Ricardo
Staff Writer
The Tennis team at Florida Southern has been on a roll since the season began in early March. The Men’s and Women’s teams both have winning records heading into the back half of April looking to continue their success.
Sophomore Emily Jennwein leads the team, and this performance moved Jennwein up 13 spots to No. 35 in singles nationally, and helped the team reach No. 6 in the ITA national rankings which is the highest the women’s team has ever achieved in their long history.
In a recent match Jennewein went 2-1 in sets to help propel the Mocs to victory. She has a 12-3 singles record and an impressive 16-1 doubles record.
The Men’s tennis team sits at an impressive No. 11 rank heading into the latter half of the month. The team holds a 15-4 overall record, while being 73-31 in singles and 38-14 in doubles. There are many bright spots on this talented roster, but one player that stands out is Mario Garoz. Garoz is a 6’3 senior out of Toledo, Spain, and has been nothing short of impressive this season. Garoz is consistently playing at a high level; in 2023 he won rookie of the year, and in 2025 won SSC player of the year. Garoz sits at No. 7 in the country and is looking to climb the ranking in the last few matches of the season.
“He’s probably the most talented player in division II he goes about his business and his record speaks for itself,”Men’s head tennis coach Rhett Rollyson said.
Rollyson and Garoz came in together in 2022, and the results show how dominant Garoz has been in his 4 year tenure as a Moc.
The men’s team made the conference final for the first time in 23 years back in 2025. The team is looking for more than that this year, the focus is on winning the championship for the first time since 2002.
“Well we set the bar pretty high last year, making the first conference final in 23 years. . .We have to have that inner belief that hey we can accomplish some pretty cool things,” Rollyson said.
As a former player himself, Coach Rollyson is known for his passion on the court, and the results on the court backs up the intensity he brings. He explains that when watching his players, that the passion he brings may seem harsh but it’s in good intent for his team.
“It’s a fine line, because you want it so bad for them, but you also see any frustration or negativity in your body language,” Rollyson said.
As the postseason approaches, both Florida Southern tennis teams have positioned themselves as serious contenders. With strong leadership, standout performances and growing confidence, the Mocs are set to make noise in the Sunshine State Conference Championships and beyond.
