It is almost February, which means spring sports are back in session for Seton Hall, and the women’s tennis team was the first back in action.
After a few months off, the team opened on Jan. 26 with an impressive 4-1 victory over Delaware. The win speaks volumes about the team’s preparation. Whereas most collegiate sports are played during a single season or semester, tennis is played in the fall and spring.
Therefore, the offseason is very short, and players must stay in shape in order to be ready for the second half and the most important part of the schedule in late-January.
The Pirates, according to Anicka Fajnorova, stayed prepared for the new season in a variety of ways during their time off.
“We went to the gym, worked out, went for runs, and of course it was a great time, but at the same time to reset and get ready for the spring,” the senior Fajnorova said.
In a sport where agility and endurance are key to a successful season, it was important that the team did not take too much time off to relax.
“The main thing that we tell the youngsters is that it’s about to be a lot more different than what we’re used to,” junior Michal Matson said. “It’s a lot more team oriented.”
Matson capitalized on her comments in the match against Delaware, coming away with a key victory to seal the win for the Pirates.
With 20 matches to go in the regular season, it is important that the team stays focused during a very exhausting schedule.
What was a young team a couple of years ago is now abundant in experience, and that has helped the underclassmen on the team. The team also has a clear, common goal in mind.
“Win the Big East, and we’ve all been working very hard on and off the court,” freshman Regina Pitts said. “I’m very confident in our preparation”.
The team is coming off a promising fall campaign, and with six of the eight players on the roster being juniors or seniors, there is plenty of room for confidence.
The Pirates will have to stay motivated throughout the sea- son to get the results that they want. The team travels to Binghamton for its road game of 2019 on Feb. 2, which will provide a formidable test.
The team then comes home for a quick two-game slate against FIU and Drexel before heading on a brutal, four-game road trip from Feb. 10 to 22.
Matthew Mlodzinski can be reached at matthew.mlodzinski@ student.shu.edu or on Twitter @ Mlodzinski_15.
