Women's Tennis: Looking to Build
September 16, 2011 10:59 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - At practice on Wednesday morning, the West Virginia University women’s tennis team appeared to be on its A-game. The players were practicing hard, and listening intently to supportive tips regarding serving and footwork.
The team opens its season today, playing in the UNC-Wilmington Collegiate Invitational.
“It’s about getting these matches out of the way,” coach Tina Samara said. “The ladies are prepared and are looking forward to future high-pressured invitationals.
“Anything can happen (at UNC-Wilmington). We don’t know who will play who.”
Samara believes that this will be a solid start to the season, and will show what her newcomers and returning players alike can bring onto the court. She also believes that it will be key for her players to make the transition from practice to competition.
“We can practice one way and compete another way,” she said.
It has also proved a transition for the team to get to know one another, with Samara having signed several new players over the summer.
Lea Jansen is one of the new additions to the team. A junior transfer from Washington State University, Jansen will unfortunately be forced to sit out the fall season due to a stress fracture that currently has her on crutches.
“We are trying to diagnose Lea and our goal for her is to be able to play in the spring,” Samara said.
Despite the injury, Samara believes Jansen has a lot to offer, and is looking for her to excel during the spring, especially in regard to playing doubles.
Another player Samara signed over the summer is Jade Allen. A native of London, England Allen had received other offers but decided to come to Morgantown. She has been practicing hard with the team and making improvements to her game ever since.
“Jade is a hard worker and has a great attitude,” Samara said.
Ikttesh Chahal is another new addition to the team.
“She’s doing well, and has come come a lot further,” Samara said about the true freshman from Chandigarh, India.
Chahal said that her experience on the WVU tennis team has been great so far.
“Everyone on the team is great, they’re really nice,” she elaborated. “My mentality has improved a lot.”
This has been a big adjustment for Chahal. She commented that playing here is much more intense than anywhere she’s played before, but that it’s great to be on board nonetheless. She is excited for her first match and intends to give her best effort and play as well as she can.
This year, the team returns a leader in senior Veronica Cardenas. Last season, Cardenas performed well, but she still saw room to improve. She remained in Morgantown this summer to take classes, and never stopped practicing. With her teammates back in action, she plans to continue doing something she’s great at other than tennis: motivating.
“I try to stay positive and keep everyone else the same way. I like to encourage the team, especially to use their voice,” she said.
Cardenas is looking forward to this weekend and to showing what she is made of this season. A senior, her goal is to end her WVU tennis career with a winning record.
Pleased with her team’s effort, Samara has acknowledged that she has a dedicated group. With several players remaining in Morgantown over the summer in preparation for the upcoming season, she has high hopes that their determination will pay off with success.
“Some of the girls here were also taking classes. Either way, you could tell who was here practicing. A few of the players came back to fall practice in better shape and with a better mentality. Summer practice is voluntary, so it showed how committed they really are,” she explained.
Now in her second season at WVU, Samara is looking for her team to improve upon last year’s results. The combination of returning team members with a few exciting newcomers should make for some fierce competition, and exciting tennis for Mountaineer fans to enjoy.
The team opens its season today, playing in the UNC-Wilmington Collegiate Invitational.
“It’s about getting these matches out of the way,” coach Tina Samara said. “The ladies are prepared and are looking forward to future high-pressured invitationals.
“Anything can happen (at UNC-Wilmington). We don’t know who will play who.”
Samara believes that this will be a solid start to the season, and will show what her newcomers and returning players alike can bring onto the court. She also believes that it will be key for her players to make the transition from practice to competition.
“We can practice one way and compete another way,” she said.
It has also proved a transition for the team to get to know one another, with Samara having signed several new players over the summer.
Lea Jansen is one of the new additions to the team. A junior transfer from Washington State University, Jansen will unfortunately be forced to sit out the fall season due to a stress fracture that currently has her on crutches.
“We are trying to diagnose Lea and our goal for her is to be able to play in the spring,” Samara said.
Despite the injury, Samara believes Jansen has a lot to offer, and is looking for her to excel during the spring, especially in regard to playing doubles.
Another player Samara signed over the summer is Jade Allen. A native of London, England Allen had received other offers but decided to come to Morgantown. She has been practicing hard with the team and making improvements to her game ever since.
“Jade is a hard worker and has a great attitude,” Samara said.
Ikttesh Chahal is another new addition to the team.
“She’s doing well, and has come come a lot further,” Samara said about the true freshman from Chandigarh, India.
Chahal said that her experience on the WVU tennis team has been great so far.
“Everyone on the team is great, they’re really nice,” she elaborated. “My mentality has improved a lot.”
This has been a big adjustment for Chahal. She commented that playing here is much more intense than anywhere she’s played before, but that it’s great to be on board nonetheless. She is excited for her first match and intends to give her best effort and play as well as she can.
This year, the team returns a leader in senior Veronica Cardenas. Last season, Cardenas performed well, but she still saw room to improve. She remained in Morgantown this summer to take classes, and never stopped practicing. With her teammates back in action, she plans to continue doing something she’s great at other than tennis: motivating.
“I try to stay positive and keep everyone else the same way. I like to encourage the team, especially to use their voice,” she said.
Cardenas is looking forward to this weekend and to showing what she is made of this season. A senior, her goal is to end her WVU tennis career with a winning record.
Pleased with her team’s effort, Samara has acknowledged that she has a dedicated group. With several players remaining in Morgantown over the summer in preparation for the upcoming season, she has high hopes that their determination will pay off with success.
“Some of the girls here were also taking classes. Either way, you could tell who was here practicing. A few of the players came back to fall practice in better shape and with a better mentality. Summer practice is voluntary, so it showed how committed they really are,” she explained.
Now in her second season at WVU, Samara is looking for her team to improve upon last year’s results. The combination of returning team members with a few exciting newcomers should make for some fierce competition, and exciting tennis for Mountaineer fans to enjoy.
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