Lady Bobcats hope season serves them to the nationals

GC&SU’s women tennis players are getting ready to kick off another successful season.

The team, ranked thirteenth in the nation, has a tradition of excellence in the Peach Belt Conference, one of the most competitive groups of teams in the NCAA Division II in the nation.

“I am very excited with this year’s team,” said junior tennis player Celine Martin. “Most of us have improved significantly from last year’s season and hopefully we will do well one more time.”

Leading into this season, the Lady Bobcats lost Channelle Kruger, who graduated Spring Semester 2005. But freshman Gabriela Acuna from Peachtree, Ga, joined the team in the fall of 2005.

Other players include senior Anna Shchupak, juniors Celine Martin, Anna Davidsson and Jessica McKnight, and sophomore Sofia Intriago.

Heavy practices have started in preparation for the new season.

“Tennis practices started on Jan. 12 and we have been working really hard since then,” said Head Coach Steve Barsby. “The only problem we have been facing is the cold and windy weather- what makes it harder to play tennis.”

Despite the chilly weather, the players are already fired up.

Every weekday from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Ladies Bobcats are work hard on their tennis game as well as their physical condition.

“We are getting faster and faster on the court and when I see that all the other players are working hard and playing well, it motivates me a lot,” Martin said.

Barsby said the team’s goal this year is to reach the NCAA Nationals Championships that will be held in Kansas City, Mo on May 10.

“If we stay focused and keep up with the hard work, we can reach the Nationals Tournament one more time,” Barsby said. “I think we have all the guns to have a great season.”

The Bobcats swept Georgia Southwestern University in their season opener going 6-0 in singles matches and 3-0 in doubles. The Lady Bobcats hope to continue their success this weekend at the Centennial Center. They play Fort Valley State at 2 p.m. on Saturday and North Greenville at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 10 2006. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry