TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

This season, you have started off with an 8-1 mark in second singles, improving upon your 10-10 second singles record during your freshman year. Where do you feel the most significant change has occurred in your play?
The biggest difference for me this year has been in my mental approach to the game. My coach, Kathy Twist, stresses that mental aspect of the game. You don’t let anything else bother you – for instance, you don’t let what your opponent does affect your game. I feel so much more calm and relaxed out on the court this year, which makes a world of difference.

Along with your partner Miglena Nenova, you have compiled a 9-3 record in first doubles this season. What have been some of the keys to your success as a duo?
It has been awesome playing with Maggie. She is a great doubles player from the baseline, so it gives me the opportunity to be aggressive up at the net. It is really nice having someone strong in the back.

How would you characterize yourself as a tennis player, and how does that style complement your doubles partner?
I love being up at the net and poaching, which means cutting off a shot that’s headed to the backcourt. I take advantage of any ball I can get at the net. Even when I am serving, one of the first things I will do is try to come to the net. I have confidence in Maggie, so that makes it a lot easier for me to play aggressively.

How long have you been paired up with Miglena and how often do you practice together?
We started playing together during the second match of the fall season, so basically all season long. We work on doubles play as a team on Fridays and Saturdays, so we don’t see too much of that during the week.

If your team takes two of the three doubles matches during a contest, you earn one team point. Meanwhile, all six of the singles matches each count for a point. Does that make it difficult to get motivated for doubles play, knowing that it might not matter in the final score?
Not at all, because if you can come out and win your doubles match, it gives you a huge mental advantage heading into singles play. Often times, you will match up against one of your opponents from doubles play, too. If you don’t win your doubles match, you’re definitely starting off on the wrong foot.

This past weekend, you competed at Northern Illinois on Friday and at Western Michigan on Saturday. What are some of the challenges you face when heading out on a long road trip like that one?
The travel makes it tough, but the matches don’t start until 1 pm, so you get plenty of rest. We also take a bus with a lot of room, so you can stretch out during the trip. Overall, a road trip like that is not too bad.

During the middle of March, your team posted an unbeaten mark in three straight matches in Florida. Individually, you were a perfect 6-0 in combined singles and doubles play. What was the key to your success during that stretch?
Those matches were so much fun. I was really able to limit my mental errors. Once again, it goes back to being much stronger in the mental aspect of the game.

Aside from stringing three straight wins together, what else did that Florida trip do for your team?
That type of a trip really helps your team bond. In the fall season, you really don’t get that because there is much less travel involved. But whenever you take a road trip, it can be an amazing experience. You learn so much about people and share bonds with them.

This weekend, you host both Marshall (1 pm on Friday) and Miami (1 pm on Saturday). What are some of the advantages of playing matches on your home court?
Playing at home can be especially nice for our team, because half of the team is from around the Western New York area. Knowing that your family and friends are there to watch can be comforting out on the court. You have that familiarity at home that you sometimes don’t get out on the road.

What goals have you set for not only this season, but for the Mid-American Conference Women’s Tennis Championship? How is that tournament set up?
Personally, I would like to be either the First or Second Team All-MAC. But my primary goal though, is to be named to the Academic All-MAC Team.

The MAC Championship is a team event that is played just like a normal match. The one exception is that once a team reaches four points and the match is decided, all play is stopped – that makes things a little different. Last year, I had not finished my first singles set when our match came to an end.

-The "10 Questions with…" feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.