Going to Union College after the matches against New Paltz and SUNY Cortland in Cortland, Plattsburgh State was ready to compete.
The Cardinals lost 7-2 to Union College on Sept. 14 and their record is 1-4 and 0-3 in the conference.
Assistant coach Joe Higgins believes that the inexperience of the team with Union’s style of play was a contributing factor to the loss.
“Overall, it’s just experience that we have to gain,” Higgins said. “If we had successes in the match it was because of good fundamentals.”
Higgins believes one of the toughest elements of collegiate tennis is footwork, and because the team is so young, footwork is one of the main focuses for improvement.
Senior Janel Weaver saw her first action of the season on the third doubles team against Union, and she said she thought the match went well, and that it was a good first appearance.
“Our confidence was up considering our matches in Cortland,” Weaver said. “Everyone was feeling confident and feeling positive.”
Curle said one of the things the team did well in the loss to Union was focusing on winning pivotal points in their matches. She said that Union is a quality program but that PSUC was able to show grit in the loss.
Higgins said the team’s use of tempo was a real strength in the match against Union.
“We were able to slow them down or speed them up when we wanted,” Higgins said. “I thought Janel did very well. The doubles teams were able to set a tone for the singles to implement.”
Weaver also said she thought her first serve wasn’t as strong as it usually is, but her second serve was more consistent than usual.
“My ground strokes and first serve need to improve and my baseline play,” Weaver said. “I’m more of a net player but I’d like to move back.”
PSUC will take on Johnson State Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the Memorial Courts for their final home match of the season.
Johnson State has won only one of their matches this season, but Curle isn’t worried about records and expects a good match.
“I know what we’re capable of and what we’re working on, and that is an important aspect to have solid going in to any matchup,” Curle said.
Email Matt Sheehan at matthew.sheehan@cardinalpointsonline.com.
