TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

What has it meant for your team to not only win your first two matches, but to win them by a combined score of 14-0?
Winning our first two matches has been really important to us as a team. Match play is the ultimate test to see if everything we work on at practice is really coming through. Everyone winning is not only a boost of confidence for us on a number of different levels, but it also shows that everyone's hard work and dedication is producing the results we want.

Last season was your first year at UB in which you competed in singles play. How different is it for you this year with a season of collegiate singles experience to draw upon?
In tennis, experience is extremely important. Many things can only be experienced during match play - such as the pressure of being in a tight match, as well as the ability to think quickly to know what to do with the ball when it comes speeding towards you. With last year's play to draw from, I have learned to be much more patient during a match. Knowing that I have the experience allows me to stay much calmer and play the match one point at a time.

In doubles play, you have been paired with Erica Zielinski. How important is it to have chemistry with your doubles partner?
Communication is the most important part of doubles. You have to know things like where your partner is going to serve the ball, if she is coming to the net or staying back, and who is going is take balls that are hit down the middle. Erica and I played a lot of doubles in the summer, so not only do we feel very comfortable playing together, but many times we know where the other is going without having to say anything.

Are you generally paired off with someone to play in singles at practice, or do you play all of your teammates at one time or another?
Because of the time restraints, when we play each other during practice, we usually separate between the top four and bottom four. However, everyone plays everyone else eventually to get experience against different levels and types of play.

At the Can-Am Invitational Tournament two weeks ago, it actually worked out that you faced teammate Michelle Kollarova in the semifinals. What was that experience like?
In my mind, playing one of your own teammates is one of the hardest things to do on the court. Our team is so close that it is like playing one of your sisters - it is hard both mentally and emotionally. In the end you have to concentrate on how to beat your opponents' game rather than how you are going to beat who you are playing.

What type of preparation or routine do you have on the day of a match or tournament?
Usually on the day of a match, we get to the courts two hours before the match's scheduled starting time. Our head coach, Kathy Twist, brings us lunch to make sure that we have a good meal before we play, enabling us to maintain energy no matter how long our match lasts. After we eat and relax, those of us who need to see the trainers do so. Then we do some team rituals where we decide what we need to do in order to play well. About an hour before the match is scheduled to start, we start warming up and then finish up by playing out some points with our teammates. When there are about 10 minutes left, we get ready for introductions. After that, we have one last team cheer before heading off to our respective courts.

How much has the addition of assistant coach Alida Gallovits - who played on the WTA Tour during the mid 90s - meant to your team?
Alida's skill level is just amazing, as is the fact that she has experience from both the pro tour and from her time as the top player at Florida State. She understands firsthand what we are going through, considering she went through it herself a couple of years ago. She is one of the nicest people I know and genuinely cares about each one of us on a personal level as well as on the court.

What preferences do you have for a racket as far as things like frame type and string tension? What is the model of racket that you use?
There are so many different brands and types of rackets out there now. I personally prefer the oversized heads as opposed to the midsize. Each racket has a different tension at which it should be strung. The racket has a given range and you can decide if you want it strung for control or for power. I use a Volkl Quantum racket and usually have it strung in the middle for a balance of power and control.

Have you played on surfaces other than a hard court? How do the various surfaces affect your approach as a player?
I have played on clay courts, as well as hard courts. Clay is a much slower surface. You have more time to see the ball, however it is harder to run, so you often see players sliding to get the ball.

How often do you watch WTA events? Do you feel anyone on the current WTA circuit could win four grand slam events in the same calendar year?
I try to watch as much tennis as I can when it is on television. Right now, if Serena Williams can stay healthy, I think she has a good chance to win all four of the grand slam events in one year. She is just so powerful that it's hard to beat her. However, Justine Henin-Hardenne's play has also been amazing and I think if she can continue on at that level, she has a real good chance of beating anyone - not to mention winning all four grand slam events.

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