After a promising end to the 2015 season, 2016 has already the makes of a successful year so far for the Plattsburgh State Women’s Tennis team.
Head coach Annmarie Curle is excited with her roster this year, and will especially be looking at the leadership from the senior class on this team to help propel them throughout the season.
“We have a strong senior presence – three of those seniors are in the starting lineup,” Curle said. “A goal of ours is cultivating a winning attitude, which really means for us leaving nothing out there, going for it all on the court and maintaining a positive attitude and appreciation at the same.”
A winning attitude is in full effect to begin the season so far, as the Cardinals have won the first two matches of the season, 7-2 and 9-0 against Farmingdale State and Lyndon State, respectively, who are both nonconference opponents.
Kaitlyn Healy is one of six seniors on the roster, and is looking forward to the leadership position that being a senior entails.
“We have four new players, so it’s important that we can be the role models that they need to look forward and have a good season,” Healy said. “Overall I feel like this is probably going to be the best season with the team, we really have a good bond and we all play and work really well towgether, so I’m really excited for the rest of the season.”
Sophomore Kelci Henn, who is Healy’s teammate for doubles, is looking forward to compete with Healy this season. They both showed a load of resilience in winning both of their doubles matches in the first two games of the season.
“She definitely impacts the way I play. She has the experience and is able to calm me down when I get frustrated,” Henn said about her teammate. “She keeps us solid and very consistent.”
Curle also mentioned the presence of fellow seniors Sarah Drexinger and Jacqueline Ciriello in the starting lineup, and how confidence and being able to work through adversity translates to good chemistry and a solid winning mindset.
“We’re really fortunate to be open up against two good teams before conference play,” Curle said. “Our nonconference games are challenging. Hopefully it will give us a good foundation when we go into SUNYAC play.”
PSUC was not able to capture a victory against conference play last season, so with Oneonta on Friday and Cortland on Saturday, the Cards look to counter their efforts from a year ago, and come away with key victories against SUNYAC opponents.
“I think the nonconference games are really important,” Healy said. “It gives us the confidence we need to know we can beat the good teams from Long Island and Vermont which will get us pumped up for SUNYAC’s and pool play which is when the rankings really matter.”
After starting the season with matches in back to back days, PSUC will be back on the courts today facing off against SUNYAC opponent Oneonta at 3p.m., which marks the first conference matchup of the season for the Cards, and will be back at it on Saturday to face off against Cortland to close out the SUNYAC conference weekend matchups.
PSUC did not come out on top against these two teams last year, so the Cards will be ready for revenge this weekend.
Email Ezra Kachaturian at sports@cardinalpointsonline.com
