What is your year and what major are you?

Junior, speech-language pathology major

How long have you been playing tennis?

I’ve been playing tennis since sixth grade

What got you started playing tennis?

I was given the opportunity to play several sports, I played soccer, basketball, and ran cross country before starting tennis… I was allowed to try different sports as I grew up

How do you feel you did personally on your spring break trip?

I feel that spring break was a great way for me to test my skills against strong competition. I feel that I played some of my best tennis so far over spring break. It was a great trip for me and my team. I have no regrets about the way I played. I also wanted to gain as many wins as possible for my team.

What are some things you would like to improve on as the season progresses?

I would like to improve my ability to recognize how I make unforced errors.  Sometimes I tighten up my swings during my matches and I don’t even realize it. No matter how close the match is or at point in the season we are, I want to make sure I am playing my best tennis. Mental toughness is something I believe I have improved over my career but could always work on.

What are some things you did to prepare for this season?

I prepared for this season by playing local tournaments at home, running, and doing conditioning drills.

What are some things you do to maintain great shape throughout the season as well as make sure you are not fatigued by season’s end?

The conditioning and preparation for our season helps me keep up with the running we do during practice. My coach does a great job of pushing us in practice so we’re prepared for matches. We use practice sets and work in our doubles teams before our matches. I also really try to take care of myself during the season, through stretching, eating well, and drinking large amounts of chocolate milk.

What goals do you have for this season?

I believe we have a very strong team this season and I am really proud of the work my teammates have done. Therefore, I have high expectations for both the girls’ and the guys’ teams. The guys’ team is coming along really well and I think we have really good athletes on the men’s team. I hope they can get as many wins as they can and work to improve throughout the season. I believe the girls’ team is fully capable of reaching the MAC finals and winning the MAC championships. We reached the MAC finals in both my freshman and sophomore years. My teammates and I also have some wins under our belt against Wilkes, the MAC favorite. I think we have a really strong lineup and have been working very hard. An individual goal I have this season is to play my best tennis to help my team earn a MAC championship. While tennis is made up of individual matches, they all combine together for a team score and I aspire to earn two wins for the team every time we play a match. I am very excited for Misericordia Tennis this year, and I believe both teams can have great seasons.

Do you see tennis being apart of your life when you graduate from Misericordia?

I definitely think tennis will be a part of my life when I graduate from MU. It is my favorite sport and it really pushes me physically and mentally. I am always aiming to improve and really want to reach my ultimate potential in the game. Playing after college can give me a chance to do that. Tennis is really fun too. I have met some really awesome people through tennis and my teammates are bosses really, I love them. I am sure I will be playing at some point after college, whether it’s in a league or with friends. Playing tennis is one of the best decisions I’ve made at MU.

Photo Courtesy of MU Athletics