Women netters young, but experienced
Having only one senior, picking up three freshmen and losing its No. 1 and No. 2 players, the Utah State women’s tennis team is youthful, but that doesn’t mean it is lacking experience.
“The fact that we are young doesn’t concern me too much,” said Head Coach Chris Wright. “The ones that did get some playing experience last year, they got a lot. That helped them mature quite a bit.”
From last year’s team the Aggies lost their No. 1 player, senior Sarah Lowe, and No. 2 Jocee Bergeson. Returning are the No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 players, all who saw considerable playing time.
Team co-captain Caroline Pollock is the lone senior on the team and had the best record last spring, going 9-5 at the No. 3 spot.
Wright said Pollock will probably play in the No. 1 position this season and, although she is moving up two spots, said he is confident in her ability to perform well.
“I had a really good record last year because I played at three, but this year it will definitely be harder,” Pollock said.
Being the only senior and team co-captain, Pollock will also be taking on a leadership role.
“She’s a hard worker and hopefully she’ll continue to pass on the things that are helpful to her,” Wright said.
Pollock said she doesn’t see herself much differently from the rest of the team, though, and just wants to help everyone be successful.
“I don’t feel any more mature than the other girls,” she said. “Shelly [Ferguson] and I are co-captains, so I try to make sure I can set a good example and set some goals for the team and help us keep them.”
Also returning are two juniors, Ferguson and Holly Anderson. Last spring, Ferguson finished at 8-7 playing in the No. 4 position.
Anderson only played two doubles matches last spring, but said she is looking forward to the chance to contribute this season.
“I have worked so hard during the summer and during the off-season, so hopefully I will get my chance this year,” she said. “I feel like even in the past I have been a level under all the girls, I feel like, now, that I’m right up there.”
The two returning sophomores on the team are Haley Hawkins and Carolyn Larsen. Last season Hawkins built an 8-8 record and Larsen went 9-7. As a doubles team, the pair was the best on the team at 7-8.
To fill the remaining spots, the Aggies have brought in three freshmen — Lindsey Bennion, Andrea Hansen and Jill Smith.
“I’m really excited that we have these girls,” Anderson said. “They’ve had a lot of match experience and I think they’re definitely going to be a big contribution.”
Although new to the team, Hansen and Smith both competed during the Aggies’ fall season in the Brigham Young Invitational and the Rolex Invitational.
“I think it was good to get some experience and give us a chance to see them in action,” Wright said.
Hansen went 1-3 and Smith went 1-2 in the fall. Pollock and Larsen compiled the best records at 3-4 and 2-1, respectively.
After the completion of the fall season, though, the Aggies stopped practicing in mid-November and didn’t resume until Jan. 6. Now, the team is trying to prepare for the spring season.
“The big break was a killer on me,” Wright said. “[We’re] just so anxious after the fall to get going, to start playing. Everyone has been very enthusiastic. Work ethic has been awesome. We’re just going to try to keep that up and keep pushing them. We’ve got a good schedule.”
Familiar opponents dot the Aggies’ schedule, but there are also some big differences.
Last season, Utah State played only two Big West Conference matches, Cal Poly and the University of Idaho, before going into the league tournament. This year it has four, which Wright said will be beneficial in giving the team a chance to see the competition before the conference tournament.
“It’s an opportunity for us to make a statement for ourselves and say something about the quality of our team,” he said.
In addition to the conference matches, USU will be playing in seven home matches this season, up from four last year.
“I’m excited for that,” Pollock said. “You get the home-court advantage. You get your friends and your family here. Of course it helps with school, too.”
The Aggies will start the season at home, opening against Montana State University Jan. 23, although Wright said he is unsure about what the lineup will be.
“It’s basically going to be just my gut feeling on where they’re going to play the best,” he said. “We’re pretty solid all the way through. That’s been one of our trademarks is we’ve been pretty solid. Everybody is just going to have to work really hard, every single position.”
–slbk5@cc.usu.edu