While other students enjoyed the last couple weeks of summer break, Hillsdale’s women’s tennis team geared up for the start of their season which begins this weekend with home matches on Saturday at 11 a.m. against Walsh and Sunday at 1 p.m. against Ashland.
This year the team welcomed four new freshmen to their roster and retained five veteran players, bringing their team total to nine. Team captains are seniors Sydney Delp and Lindsay Peirce.
“We approach each new season differently because we are always working to adapt and improve upon the existing tennis program,” Delp said. “This year, we are challenged to utilize the strengths of our returning teammates in combination with our newest members.”
Head coach Nikki Walbright said the freshmen add a new dimension to the team and could be a real asset this season.
“The freshmen have brought a new intensity just because they are new people to hit against and they’re all really strong players.” Walbright said.
Walbright said that while she is still working on the doubles lineup for the year, she is excited to see how the depth of the team will contribute to the strength of the team overall.
“It’s fun this year because although we will have to have designated doubles teams for the matches, I do feel like I can interchange people if we need to and we will be just as strong.”
Regardless of the talent possessed by the team, the women continue to practice hard in preparation for their upcoming matches.
Coming back to campus two weeks early on August 17, the team began a two-week pre-season. During those weeks the team held three-hour morning practices, followed in the afternoons with either an hour of strength and conditioning or a video review.
Madeline Bissett, freshmen and younger sister of junior team member Jada Bissett, said that while preseason practices were long and challenging, it gave the team a chance to bond.
“The juniors and seniors on the team made it extremely easy to adjust to the team. The other three freshman and I always felt welcome and comfortable around the rest of our teammates.” Bissett said.“ The upperclassmen have shown us what it’s like to be a good leader, and how to work hard but still have fun together.”
Now as they shift from preseason into the regular season, the team is setting their goals high. Delp said she believes with Walbright’s guidance the Chargers can become a “deadly threat in the GLIAC this year.”
“We believe we have the potential to be the best team in the GLIAC. We want to beat everybody.”
