Young guns lead Charger tennis

Home Sports Young guns lead Charger tennis

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.”