For a program that has not seen a winning season since the turn of the century, success appears to be on the horizon for the Oswego State women’s tennis team.
Despite losing two of the season’s first three contests, a competitive 5-4 loss to The Sage Colleges and a 9-0 defeat at the hand of SUNYAC powerhouse SUNY Geneseo, hope for a positive change in results exists for the program, led by a unique approach from fourth-year skipper, Shane Evans.
“I don’t stress on racking up wins,” Evans said. “I focus on individual achievements. As a result, we will start to see wins like the one we had against Elmira [College].”
The 9-0 win on home court over Elmira College on Sept. 2 had a few major storylines stemming from it. The contest marked the first time the Lakers had blanked an opponent since a sweep of Wells College on April 22, 2017, and was the first time new transfer Eliza Johnson played against her former school.
Following Evans’ mantra of “trust the process,” a new look for the Laker’s squad with plenty of returning veteran talent has the team on the precipice of a long-awaited turnaround.
The recruiting process over the off season saw the Lakers bring in only one freshman, Lydia Houser. Joining her was Johnson, who brought more than just her playing skills to the Romney Tennis Courts.
“They are all looking to improve and take their games to the next level,” Evans said. “When you have that consistent level of passion within any sport, the team will naturally benefit as a whole. Both Houser and Johnson provide a positive energy for our women’s tennis program. As the experienced player, Johnson has proven to be a valuable member, demonstrating effective leadership qualities with a strong set of skills.”
The majority of the team consists of returning student athletes, led by seniors Lorrayne Broach and Haru Kobayashi and sophomore Bridget Bender, who have taken on leadership roles to push Evans’ squad into winning territory by abiding by Evans’ mantra.
“As returners, there is an unspoken expectation that they set a good example for the newer players,” Evans said. “Everyone relies on them, including myself, to keep the team together and maintain our high expectations for the season. A large part of our ability to improve is dependent on their commitment to trusting the process. If they are determined to improve, everyone else will follow their lead.”
Those expectations to which Evans was referring are somewhat unconventional when compared to what coaches would traditionally say, but they offer solid insight to what measures it takes to reverse the fortunes of a struggling program.
“My expectation for this season is to continue to remain competitive against other tennis programs, especially within our own conference,” Evans said. “So long as we continue to make progress both individually and as a team, I’d say we will have a successful year, regardless of what the overall record may show.”
With conference play already underway, the Lakers are looking for their first conference win since Sept. 26, 2015, at home against SUNY Fredonia. A SUNYAC win under their belt will be the second conference win for the graduating seniors.
The team will continue to “trust the process” for the remainder of the season in hopes of winning its first SUNYAC tournament game since Oct. 11, 2014, against Plattsburgh State.
The next contest for the Lakers will come on the road at SUNY Oneonta on Sept. 15 as they look to notch the program’s first win over the Red Dragons since Sept. 30, 1999.
Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian
