DALLAS (SMU) – The Mustangs will waste no time getting to show their offseason growth as the 2026 spring schedule opens with a Saturday doubleheader against No. 7 Mississippi State at 10 a.m. and Lamar at 5 p.m. at Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex.
From Vikas Deo's perspective, there were lessons in 2025 that he believes will pay dividends in the long run.
Last spring, the SMU men's tennis team was navigating its inaugural season in the talent-rich Atlantic Coast Conference. The team's youthful roster, combined with the elevated competition, resulted in the program's first sub-.500 record since 2019. The outcome ended a streak of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances for the Mustangs.
A year later, Deo and his teammates enter the spring with a much different outlook on what's ahead based on what's behind them.
"We had a lot of great opportunities, but it was definitely somewhat of a learning curve for us with that level coming from a different conference," Deo said. "I think for all of the returners, we really understood this is the level, this is how much better we need to be and this is what we need to improve. I think for the returners that experience is going to help us even more for the spring. Knowing what to expect now and being in the thick of it last spring – I think we can use all that knowledge and share it with the newer guys."
The 2026 season opener is the launching point for a slate of competition that will give the Mustangs plenty of chances to prove themselves.
Between non-conference and ACC opponents, SMU will face nine teams ranked in the ITA Preseason top 25 and 13 foes who qualified for the NCAA Tournament field last season.
To outsiders, that might sound like a stiff gauntlet. SMU plans to use it as a litmus test for where the team stands.
The Mustangs return six players who were with the program last year, three of whom finished with winning records in singles competition. The addition of three transfers and one highly-touted freshman helped bolster the roster and provide more experience. The transfers all come with previous Division I experience, each having a winning singles record at their previous institution last spring.
"I think one of our Achilles heels last year was that we were really young. We had four or five freshman, we had five or six guys under the age of 19 in our starting lineup," SMU coach Grant Chen said. "Obviously the transfer portal and everything has changed a little bit, but we're definitely a little bit more seasoned. We're definitely a lot more experienced."
For Deo, the key has been taking that mix of experiences, both in Dallas and elsewhere, and meshing it into a cohesive team. So far, the process has gone well with camaraderie among teammates developing quickly and seamlessly.
SMU spent the fall schedule taking part in a variety of individual events, working on skill and strength development, and focusing on team chemistry.
As a program, the Mustangs feel older, wiser and stronger. What that equates to has yet to be determined, but they're certainly eager to find out.
"I really like the team this year. We have a pretty old team which we like. I think we all have a bunch of experience we can rely on, and while it's not all as a team, we have it individually and we have a lot. I think we're going to use that to our advantage," Deo said. "Can't wait to get kicked off on Saturday. It can't come fast enough."
