After starting the season 0-2, the Oswego State women’s tennis team is looking to build off last weekend’s impressive win over Wells College.
In 2015 the Lakers went 6-12. They are hoping that the slow start this year isn’t signaling another long losing season.
Head coach Shane Evans hopes that last weekend’s win over Wells can be a building block for his team in the weeks to come.
“We are capable of doing much more, I think after the first two matches we kind of lost our confidence,” Evans said. “I think after our match against Wells we kind of rebuilt that confidence within ourselves.”
It can be hard for a team who waits all summer to open the season to go through a losing streak right away, but changing the routine during the week and preparing differently is something Evans relies heavily on.
“From week to week depending on how we’re playing I always ask the players, ‘What do you want to work on?’” Evans said. “[We] kind of change up the practices depending on how we play and how we feel.”
While going through a tough stretch, teams rely on veteran leadership, and proven players to help get them over the hump. Alli Ulrich is one of those players coaches would love to see step up more.
“I would love to see [Ullrich] play and get some wins under her,” Evans said. “I’d love for our new player, Lorrayne Broach, who is a freshman, to get some wins as well.”
Opening the season against a top school like SUNY Geneseo can be daunting for any team, especially for the Lakers who haven’t won a match against SUNY Geneseo since the 2007-2008 season.
“I know at least since I’ve been here for my three years of playing tennis that we haven’t beaten [Geneseo] or even had one person win,” Ullrich said. “So it’s always tough to have to come up and play them first.”
The team hopes to improve on the win over Wells and get back to .500 this weekend.
“Taking away the good things and everything that was working… and finally knowing that we put our good skills into a match and getting the win is huge for our confidence,” Ullrich said.
As a senior, Ullrich is hoping that her veteran leadership can trickle down to the younger members on the team.
“It really is just about leading by example and helping them and cheering them on,” Ullrich said.
Getting off to a tough start isn’t something new for junior Giovanna Saulle either. The Lakers have started slow in each of the two years she has played for them.
“For us to have that start it’s a little rough and hard to come back from it,” Saulle said. “But it makes us better and stronger players overall.”
Having a team mentality is something the Lakers pride themselves on and they believe a strong team mentality can help them improve in the SUNYAC this season.
“We’re really good as a team where we encourage each other and always stand by each other,” Saulle said. “Especially in doubles it’s crucial to have that teamwork together so we can get the win.”
Oswego State feels confident in their ability to beat anyone coming up on the schedule and is hoping that last weekend’s win can be a building block for the rest of the season.
The team will travel to SUNY rival Oneonta on Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. start time.
