At a practice on any given day, certain athletes give off a particular intensity and the sense that they are an intricate part of the team.

Daria Petrovic, a sophomore on the women’s tennis team, is no exception. She always comes to practice with a strong work ethic and the intensity needed to grow not only as an athlete, but as a person, according to coach Hans Olsen.

“One of Daria’s strongest weapons is her hard work,” Olsen said. “She comes to practice with an intense work ethic, and really sets the bar for the rest of the team.”

Petrovic started playing tennis at age 3 and started playing tournaments at 8, and ever since, tennis has always been a huge part of her.

“Tennis is my life,” Petrovic said.

Petrovic is from Marbella, Spain, and decided to come to N.C. State for the team atmosphere and Olsen.

During her freshman year Petrovic was named All-ACC and was a finalist in Southern Intercollegiate Championships and won doubles in the U.S. Open college tournament with partner Alejandra Guerra.

Expectations this season for Petrovic have only increased.

“We are focusing on improving her fitness,” Olsen said. “Once her fitness is at the elite level, her tennis will follow. We are looking to take her to an elite level all over.”

As Petrovic begins her second year on the team, Olsen said she has matured a lot. Petrovic agrees.

“Being a sophomore, I now know what to expect,” Petrovic said. “In college tennis there is a lot more loud cheering, which is different than tennis outside of college.”

Petrovic lets the pressure to succeed bother her. In fact, she said she wants to improve from last season’s remarkable finish. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association recently released new national individual rankings. Petrovic is currently ranked No. 79, while the team is ranked No. 40 overall in the nation.

The small tennis team, comprised of seven women, is close on and off the court, according to Petrovic, each with something different to bring to the table.

“We all have different styles. Mine is defiantly intensive,” Petrovic said. “I try to bring a lot of energy and motivation.”

Not only is Petrovic an intense player on the court. Olsen is looking for her to step up as a leader on the team.

“We need her to step up as a leader,” Olsen said. “She has lots of leadership potential, and I can see her improvements from one week to the next.”

Members of the team also want Petrovic to step into the leadership role and already look to her for motivation.

“I look to Daria for encouragement,” sophomore Berkeley Brock, who is ranked No. 97 in the ITA, said. “She is a very positive person and always has a lot of energy.”

Sunday starts the official season for the team, with competition against Elon at home. The team has been working hard to prepare for Elon every day, according to Petrovic.

“I’m very excited to start the season,” Petrovic said. “I’ve been ready to start since the end of last season.”

Women’s tennis by the numbers1 freshman1 junior1 senior4 sophomores13-9 regular-season record in 20074-7 ACC regular-season record last seasonSource: N.C. State Athletics

Daria Petrovic by the numbers79 current national ranking15-6 doubles record last season4-7 ACC record in 2007Source: N.C. State Athletics