With a successful 2012 season behind them, the Hillsdale College women’s tennis team
looks forward to laying a solid foundation for their upcoming season.
The team finished fifth overall at the 2012 GLIAC championships, and head coach
Nikki Walbright won coach of the year.
“It definitely adds some pressure since we had such a great season finishing
fifth and our coach being coach of the year, but we are all ready to exceed those
things,” sophomore Lindsay Peirce said. “Pressure is what makes us strive to get
better.”
In addition to ending last season on such a high note, the loss of Hillsdale’s
No. 1 singles player Brittany Parks also adds pressure and motivates the team
members. Junior captain Morgan Delp and sophomores Peirce and Sydney Delp will rise to fill Brittany’s playing and leadership roles.
“We really have the chance to step up,” Delp said. “I
know [the loss of Brittany] has motivated a lot of us to improve, and we are
starting to see those results at practice.”
But with Brittany’s graduation comes the matriculation of four new players, bringing the total
count to 10 team members.
“The new freshmen add depth to the team and allow freedom to play around with
the line up,” Walbright said. “They are a good fit for the team not only skill-wise,
but also socially.”
Peirce also believes the new members are a great addition to the team.
“They have all stepped up to the plate and bring another level of competition
that is going to make us all better,” Peirce said. “We are so blessed to have four
amazing freshmen on our team.”
With 15 teams competing for eight spots in the GLIAC championships, competition
in the conference is tough. Walbright said that for the women on the team, both
mental and physical toughness is essential for success this season.
“We want to keep a nice, positive attitude,” Walbright said. “It’s really tough to
keep a good mental game going, especially with so many matches right in a
row.”
After opening the season on Sept. 6 against Wayne State, Hillsdale will compete
in 14 matches plus an additional three matches if the team qualifies for the GLIAC
championship.
“First and foremost we want to make it to GLIACs again and then finish higher
than last year, while also having fun, becoming closer, and getting better at every
practice,” Peirce said.
Sydney Delp said that coach Walbright made it clear to the team that Hillsdale would
be the “hardest working and closest” team in the conference.
“[Coach Walbright] holds our team to a higher standard,” Sydney Delp said. “It gives us
pride in our team; I think that is what makes it worthwhile.”