With the fall tennis season just beginning, the women’s team has a different dynamic than in previous years. The team in the past few seasons has had plenty of older and experienced players guiding the team, yet for this year there are only two upperclassmen.
That leaves five sophomores and one freshman. Junior Neils Barringer said the team has a different feel than her freshman year.
“But we’re all really solid this year, and I think everyone’s experienced,” Barringer said. “Even our freshman has played a lot and is a great addition [to the team].”
This weekend N.C. State, with all its young players, hosts the Wolfpack Invitational. The tournament will be held in the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The finals will be Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be about 90 players participating in the tournament from 15 schools across North Carolina, including Elon and East Carolina.
Coach Hans Olsen said he has high expectations for the women this weekend and key elements that he wants to see improve.
“We’re really working on different things for each person. A lot of it is movement, shot selection and dictating play,” Olsen said.
Last weekend State traveled to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete in the St. Mary’s Classic in its first tournament of the year. Barringer said she needed to improve on a few things. Barringer finished 1-2 in singles and 1-2 in doubles at the Classic.
“I have been working on staying in the court, getting to the net more and being more aggressive,” Barringer said. “I’m not really focused on winning every match [in the Wolfpack Invitation], rather just working on those things so that in the spring I will be ready.”
Although the St. Mary’s Classic provided the coaching staff with insight into areas that needed improvement, the team also had some success. Sophomore Catherine Grotz and sophomore Kristen Bleakley each won consolation flights. Sophomore Daria Petrovic, freshman Lenka Hojckova and sophomore Berkeley Brock made it to the finals on Sunday but fell short. “[Overall] the girls played really well, and we’re looking to focus in more now that we have our first tournament under our belt,” Olsen said. “This is now the time when we focus on how [the women] want to perform.”
Olsen not only has high expectations for the Wolfpack Invitational, but he said his top priority is to have the most fit team and to find each player’s potential.
“The sky’s the limit. This team has lots of experience with the [seven] returning players,” Olsen said.
In order for Olsen’s goal of a fitness-oriented team to come true, he has set a rigorous training schedule for the women. The team practices at least three days a week with a strength and conditioning coach. According to Olsen, the main focus right now is on endurance and recovery, and once those areas are where they need to be, the focus will be more on speed and shot selection.
Fernando Sanchez, the women’s new assistant coach, is already helping out the team during practices. His job will also entail recruiting in the future.
“The players, as well as Hans, are very hard-working, and I look forward to working with them this season,” Sanchez said. “As far as this weekend goes, my expectation for the Invitation is that we win all three flights.”
Meanwhile, Olsen said he is hoping for good fan support this weekend and into the spring.
“This weekend is the only home fall tournament for the women,” Olsen said. “This is a great opportunity to come out and support the State women’s tennis team.”