© N.C. Stae Student Media 2011
Lenka Hojckova stretches for a ball in the Wolfpack's match against Charleston Southern.
The N.C State women’s tennis team will look to ACC Player of the Week Sanaa Bhambri to lead the Pack against the College of Charleston on Sunday, looking to improve on its 2-1 record. The Pack will go into the clash with added confidence after a convincing 7-0 sweep of 59th-ranked Auburn last Sunday.
The Pack will also rely on strong performances from freshmen Joelle Kissel and Christy Sipes, who have carried their impressive fall form into the spring season. Kissel, who had a 9-3 singles record in the fall, credited head coach Hans Olsen for aiding her transition to collegiate competition.
“Hans has a really good way of explaining things on the court and he really keeps the attitude positive,” Kissel said. “I have a lot of respect for him and he has really helped me with my game.”
However, the influence of senior players, such as 32nd-ranked Bhambri, has also been key to the success of the two freshmen.
“Sanaa has helped the team so much,” Kissel said. “She gives 100 percent in practice and whenever I play her, I know I have to be at my best. Her level of play is very high.”
The New Delhi, India, native Bhambri was this week’s ACC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week. The honour coming after victories over the nation’s 10th-ranked singles player and another over the nation’s 21st-ranked doubles team, in last weekend’s clash against Auburn. Despite the sweep of Auburn last weekend, the Cougars pose a much different challenge for the Pack.
Christy Sipes, another freshman who has impressed this fall with an 86th doubles ranking, also pointed out the significant influence that Bhambri has on the team. However, Sipes noted that the Pack still has room to improve and will be looking to do just that over the weekend.
“I am looking for us to be really focus and take in a good mindset,” Sipes said. “We will look to just play as hard as we can and not get ahead of ourselves. We want to start off this spring well and play to our potential; everyone has worked hard.”
Nevertheless, Sipes and Kissel both realize they have a lot to learn. But the influence of role model Bhambri has undoubtedly aided their performances in victories over Charleston Southern and Auburn so far in the spring season. This weekend will also be a perfect opportunity for the team to lay down a marker, as they look to put together a run of victories in its drive toward the ACC Tournament, which will be held in Cary April 21st-24th.
The 46th-ranked Wolfpack will head back to the courts on Sunday at noon filled with confidence as it battles the College of Charleston at the Isenhour Tennis Center.