The Plattsburgh State women’s tennis team is enjoying its possible best season in years and is finding its groove during the perfect stretch.
This past weekend, PSUC was able to win both its matches against Bard College and Mount St. Mary college by scores of 6-3 and 8-1. The two wins brought the team’s record to 5-5 for the season, giving it the chance to finish its campaign above .500 for the first time since 2012.
Junior hitter Jackie Ciriello believes this past weekend was extremely important for the team in terms of strengthening its record as well as providing the extra confidence it needs heading into their upcoming match against conference rival Oswego and the following SUNYAC tournament.
“Coming out of winning those two match-ups has really boosted our confidence,” Ciriello said. “We are really in a groove right now from that, and if we can win that match Oswego, that would be even more huge.”
Head coach Annmarie Curle also expressed how important an undefeated weekend can be to boost team morale and create inspire confidence.
“I think I speak for the whole program when I say that everyone is thrilled,” Curle said. “It was my first sweep of a weekend since I have become head coach ,and we are all feeling very positive about it.”
Curle chalked up the team’s ability to execute so effectively to generate motivation to get better and complete the first weekend sweep the team has seen this year.
“After our win against Bard we knew winning on Sunday would push us to .500 and be the first time that we would sweep a whole weekend,” Curle said. “I know everybody was super motivated and engaged to play a tough match-up, and it showed.”
The team has struggled at times throughout the season to find proper match-ups that execute the most effectively against the opposition, but through a process of trial and error, Curle believes they have found the matchups that will allow them to succeed.
“We have firmed up our lineups,” Curle said. “Things are looking very good heading forward right now.”
Ciriello also believes the team has finally settled down and found what works best in terms of doubles and singles and can use this to utilize their top talent at the correct positions and secure some big wins for the program.
“I think we have found our matchups that work the best and can now head into SUNYACs with them and be confident,” Ciriello said.
Another junior hitter, Sarah Drexinger, is confident in the direction the team is heading right now. She believes the team is meshing well right now and is doing a stellar job of feeding off of and motivating one another.
“Even though tennis is an individual sport, our momentum of everybody working together, working hard and getting along has been so important,” Drexinger said.
PSUC has the chance to finish a regular season with a winning record for only the second time in the last seven years, and no one in the program is taking the opportunity lightly, especially Curle.
“Going six and five and finishing above .500 would be absolutely amazing.”
Email Bailey Carlin at sports@cardinalpointsonline.com
