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Excitement is in the air as the women's tennis team looks to contend for sixth NCC title
After going 19-6 last year, the Huskies' women's tennis team's 7-5 record might not look that good on paper, but with the improvements that everyone is making each and every match, anything is possible.
The team has great chemistry working for them, and except for a few close losses to some good teams, they have been playing well so far this year.
"We've started the year with some tough competition, and we have so much more left this year that who knows how we're going to end up," said senior Jessica Conway. "We improve in every match that we play."
Conway (4-3) is not only the captain of the team, but she is the only upperclassman that will be competing for the Huskies this year. She will be leading three freshmen and four sophomores through the season, but to her, the fun outweighs the responsibility.
"This is the best team that I have been on," Conway said. "I enjoy it so much that it doesn't even cross my mind. I'm having a blast."
Having a young team wasn't planned, but it's nothing new for head coach Larry Sundby. He is in his fourteenth year at SCSU and says that its' all part of a cycle. With seven underclassmen, everyone is adjusting well to a new level of competition; they all have experience despite being young.
"It seems like I have four sophomores, and two or three years later they are gone, so I have to bring up three or four more sophomores," Sundby said. "We don't plan it like that, it just seems to happen."
Among the returning players this year is Berit Merrill, a sophomore from St. Cloud. Merrill posted a 32-7 record last year in both no. 2 singles and no. 3 doubles. She has moved up to the no. 1 singles spot and is currently 3-3, but is settling down after handling the pressure of being put at the top.
"It's definitely tougher competition," Merrill said. "At first it was intimidating, but now it's more exciting and I enjoy the challenge. All the pressure is what you put on yourself. I thought there would be more, but there really isn't."
Being able to deal with the pressure of collegiate sports is difficult, but this women's team is growing up fast and learning as they go. For sophomore Katie Zika, it has been a tough process. But a change in attitude has landed her a higher place in the roster and a team best 5-1 record.
"Last year, it seemed like I let every match go to my head," Zika said. "I am a better tennis player now than I was last year. Now I'm having fun and forgetting about the tough ones."
Freshman Nicole Lechner is also playing solid tennis as she has begun her collegiate career with a 4-1 record. Fellow freshman Sara Eull and sophomore Jodi Pease have a lot of talent and accomplished backgrounds; both will be looking to improve on their 3-4 starts this year.
Gretchen Hansen evened out her overall record to 1-1 last weekend at the UND invitational. Her first win of the year propelled the team to its 4-1 victory over Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
Alyssa Lauritsen is in her second year as a Husky. She is half of the Huskies' leading doubles team, as she and Zika have pulled out four wins this year.
Conway, Merrill and all the rest of the Huskies will be traveling to Florida next week to take on teams from all over the country. The Husky squad will be battling teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida in their annual trip to the Orange State.
"We do this every year," Sundby said. "It's a great way to see how we measure up against other teams around the country."
There is a lot of excitement in the air as loads of talent are getting ready to be unleashed in the NCC. Only time will tell how good the Huskies will be.
Kory Ellingson can be reached at: [email protected]
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