Pollack named top Aggie
Utah Statesman: Why did you start playing tennis and what got you interested?
Caroline Pollock: My sister started playing before I did, and I wasn’t into a sport yet. So when I saw her playing it looked really fun, and I thought I could do that and so my dad got me into lessons when I was about seven.
US: You just returned from your first road trip of the season, how was traveling and playing on the road?
CP: Actually this trip was really, really fun. It helps that we won both of our matches, and in our last we swept 7-0, so we just go out to dinner and all the girls are talking, bonding, so it just makes it really fun.
US: How different is playing on the road compared to playing at home? Is there a distinct advantage?
CP: Playing at home is good because you can have your home fans, you have home-court advantage. But in tennis it’s not like there are huge amounts of fans anyway, so going on the road, I think the team bonds more since we’re all stuck in a van or stuck in a hotel together.
US: What do you do to keep busy while traveling?
CP: Usually I have plenty of homework to do. Other than that, we girls, we play games. We love going and finding good places to eat and watching movies and stuff at night.
US: Do you like playing outdoors or indoors better, and does the ball play differently?
CP: Maybe I slightly prefer indoors because there isn’t any elements, and I don’t like to play in the wind, and the sun can’t get in your eyes. Inside, the ball feels more solid, because you can hear the pop because it echoes.
US: What surfaces, clay, grass or hard-court, do you like to play on and why?
CP: My favorite is clay. I played on clay forever in California. It’s really fun because you can slide and you can keep score on the court, make little marks.
US: What is your favorite shot to hit?
CP: I like kind of winding up and hitting it backhand.
US: Do you prefer to play doubles or singles and why?
CP: That’s a hard question. The last couple of years I was only playing doubles at [The University of] New Mexico. I have always loved doubles, but that just got me really anxious to play some singles. Now this year I am able to play singles and I am really liking it and I’ve been doing better, so it’s really a toss up because I really enjoy both.
US: You went to high school in Park City, how do you feel about Olympic events being held there, and do you have a chance to attend any events?
CP: It’s really exciting. Everyone is talking about it. On TV they show clips of Park City all the time, and of course I know exactly where they are showing, so it’s really fun. I’m excited to go home and be in the middle of it all next week. I do get to go watch the men’s aerial. I have a high school friend who is jumping it for the U.S., so it’s going to be fun to watch.
US: What is your favorite late night snack?
CP: Life cereal. Life is good.