VARSITY ATHLETICS

September 18, 2009

Women's Tennis Wows 'Em With Youth...

By Freshman No. 1 Samantha Lewis (Nashville, TN)

“Here we go Spartanssss!” The chorus is heard across the courts during the start of the doubles matches. Every game, every point, every ball; we focus all our energy into winning. The voice in our heads, “bend your knees, hit up, follow through, move,” constantly repeats over and over again. Every ball we miss is a chance we won’t get back, so we are willing to fight to the end. The Case Western women’s tennis team is getting better and dying to win. This year is a new year for success, and every player is here to be a part of it.

Last year was a difficult transitional year for the Spartans. With only six girls on the team and a brand new tennis coach, it was hard to settle into any sort of rhythm. With six new freshmen and a renewed work ethic, we are looking to redirect the course of the program. After a solid performance in our first weekend of matches, we ended up 2-0 with two 5-4 victories. We fought hard and managed to succeed, allowing us to come home with our first piece of hardware, a trend that will hopefully continue throughout the year.

I don’t know the chemistry of last year’s team, but I know this year the team is a family. We all get along both on and off the court, allowing us to support and push each other in everything we do. This is one of the most important parts of any successful team. Knowing each other’s limits and what is best for one another helps us on as well as off the court and allows us to improve as one group, so we respect one another enough to work hard together. During matches, we feed off each other’s energy; when someone on the team is pumping themselves up or has hit a killer overhead, it is great to know there is another player right next to you who wanted it just as much as you.

Coming from Nashville, Tennessee into what seems like arctic conditions, it is a completely new experience here. While the cold weather is horrible, it is fortunately the worst part of Case. I’m able to play tennis and get a great education at the same time. While most people think playing a varsity sport would take time away from my schedule and hurt my studies, it has probably helped me more than it has hurt. The regular exercise releases a lot of daily stress, and the scheduling forces me to get my work done in a timely fashion. Also, the team is always willing to help whenever anyone needs help in school. If you are falling behind or not understanding a concept, there is almost always someone who is able to offer assistance. With a new school and a new group of friends, I look forward to making this school year a successful one, both on and off the court.

Posted by: Creg Jantz September 18, 2009 10:31 AM | Category: Women's Tennis

Posted by: cnj4 (Creg Jantz) September 18, 2009 10:31 AM | Comments (0) | Trackback