Diversity fuels winning culture for Montreat College tennis

International roster marks new era for Cavaliers

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 25, 2022

The flags of 16 nations flapped in the strong wind blowing through the Patricia Cornwell Tennis Center, March 19, hours before the Montreat College mens and womens programs were to host Appalachian Athletic Conference foe and No. 8 ranked Union College. On the courts below, as the players represented by those flags warmed up for one of the most important matches in the history of Cavaliers tennis, the mood was light and festive. 

Athletes showcased dance moves while music from an international playlist echoed throughout the cove, but once the opening serve cleared the net, Montreat’s tennis programs demonstrated precisely how its diversity is driving a new, winning culture. 

Both Cavaliers teams won their conference opener, as the women emerged with a 6-1 victory, with the men shutting down the Bulldogs, 5-2. The win marked the first over Union in the history of the Montreat mens tennis program. 

Labeling the 2022 season, in which the womens team finds itself ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Tennis Coaches’ Poll, with the men sitting at No. 10 in their respective poll, “historic'' would be accurate, but the descriptor falls well short of capturing the meteoric emergence of both programs. That journey, ironically, began at Union College, where third-year Montreat head coach Mic Moore was once a team captain before embarking on his coaching career. 

The 27-year-old, who took over both Cavaliers teams prior to the 2020 season, wasted no time injecting his passion and energy for the sport into his new programs. 

“Being a younger coach, I really push for the camaraderie and the enjoyment of the sport,” said Moore, who played his final college match in 2017. “I miss it all the time, so I try to let them know, the match, the practice, the moments before this particular match, you don’t get to repeat them. And, I only want them to have positive memories of this time.”

The coach’s emphasis on getting the most out of each experience, has been appealing to the talented group of international players who are thriving under his leadership. Establishing a multicultural foundation for the tennis program was a priority for Moore when he came to Montreat. 

“I think about all of the positive things that I took from my college experience, and I try to highlight and elevate those with my team,” he said. “One of the biggest things for me was the culture, and how much you learn from having a diverse team. There’s something special about having people who would never meet each other, and having them work for one goal. Culture is part of what ‘team’ means for us.”

Moore’s approach to recruiting netted quick results when the program welcomed Stephanie Petit, former member of the Argentinian Billie Jean King Cup international team, prior to the 2021 campaign. The senior, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the country among NAIA players by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, played a key role in a dramatic turnaround a season ago. 

“The women’s team was 0-31 in the conference over a six-year span going into last season,” Moore said. “We finished as conference champions, fifth in the country and half of the roster earned All-American honors.”

While the coach anticipated that Petit would have an immediate impact on the program, the reigning NAIA Player of the Week has far exceeded his expectations. 

“I knew she’d be good,” he said. “But, I didn’t realize she’d be irreplaceable. What she brings to our team as a servant-leader, and with her dedication to the sport and her teammates, has been amazing to see.”

Montreat College head tennis coach Mic Moore talks to senior Stephanie Petit during a break, March 19, when the Cavaliers hosted Union College. Photo by Fred McCormick

Senior Valerie Quiceno Ibarguen, a native of Bogata, Colombia and first team All-American, is also a “once in a lifetime talent,” according to Moore. 

“This is one of the reasons we’re such a solid team,” he said. “Val’s been ranked as high as No. 7 in the country this season, so we have two players on this team who are doing amazing things at the same time.” 

Nicole Bueno, the third senior on the Cavs’ roster, has been yet another key figure in the emergence of the program. 

“Without our three seniors, this team would not be where it is right now,” Moore said. “This is a special group.”

Mirroring the multicultural women’s roster, which includes players from Portugal, Germany, Armenia and other countries, the men's team is enjoying similar success this season. 

Led by sophomore Adam Nagoudi, a native of Tunisia, the Cavs have been nationally ranked in 11 consecutive coaches’ polls, dating back to the 2021 season. 

“He’s an amazing talent on this team,” Moore said of Nagoudi. “He’s had success on a lot of levels, and he brings a lot of focus to this group. He’s such a reliable talent that we know when he walks on the court that he’s going to bring his point. That gives the other players a lot of confidence and takes pressure off of them.”

Nagoudi’s experience in international competition and relentless drive to improve as a player are among the many attributes he brings to the Cavs, according to the coach. 

Sophomore Adam Nagoud follows through on a powerful shot, March 19, as the Montreat Cavaliers defeated the visiting Union Bulldogs for the first time in the history of the program. Photo by Fred McCormick

“Iron sharpens iron, so when you get to practice against someone on Adam's level, you’re going to find yourself improving no matter what,” Moore said. “I’ve never met someone so laser-focused in a match, and that’s something that rubs off on his teammates. He’s also someone who’s not afraid to go work with one of his teammates with something on the court.”

With Nagoudi offering guidance on the court, Ryan Little serves as a “big brother” off of it. 

“Ryan is such a great example of what it means to wear a Montreat shirt,” Moore said. “He is a fighter for every single point, and he is a true leader. On paper, my mens and womens teams are two separate entities, but to me, he is a person who is a leader for both teams. His contributions, on and off the court, are huge.”

Little, who was born and raised in South Africa, had only visited the U.S. a few times before he connected with Moore while looking at colleges in 2019. The junior was drawn to his coach’s vision for the program. 

“I was excited to play for someone who had recent experience as a player and experience as an assistant coach,” Little said. “And, coming to a new place, playing for someone who was new as a head coach was something that was appealing to me. It seemed like we could kind of grow together.”

He was also eager to sharpen his skills against collegiate competition in the U.S. 

“Coming to America can make you feel small. It definitely opens your eyes to the amount of people playing the sport,” he said. “So, for any young tennis player that wants to see what’s out there, you have to make the journey to the States, because it can make you feel small or give you the chance to show you’re the real deal.”

Saturday’s match against Union was a priority for Little, who finished the 2021 season as an ITA NAIA Men’s Southeast Regional Tournament doubles champion. 

“We’ve played them about four times, and we’ve never beat them,” Little said. “We knew this was an important game for coach, and we wanted to deliver for him. I believe we owe a lot to him for the opportunities he’s given us, and I feel like it was kind of our job to win this match for him.”

The ability of both teams to unite behind a single goal is enhanced by the diversity of the Montreat tennis program, according to Little. 

Mic Moore, who took over the head coach of the mens and womens tennis programs at Montreat College prior to the 2020 season, has both teams ranked in the top 10 in the NAIA. Photo by Fred McCormick

“We all speak the language of tennis,” he said. “Your teammates can really get you going, and that’s something that we’re all really aware of, so we’re always out there lifting each other up. That togetherness comes from the common bond of being foreign in a new country; it’s the underlying glue that holds this team together.”

There is an even greater sense of pride that players from all over the world are converging on Montreat College to build a lasting tennis culture. 

“We still have room to grow, and we all want to make the most of the opportunities we’ve been given,” Little said. “That’s one of many things that adds to the camaraderie of these teams, we’re working to leave a legacy.”

More photos from the March 19 match between Montreat College and Union College can be found in the gallery at the top of the page.