2008 Woodie Awards
Womens bring hot start to conference-leading Principia
By: Amy Swanson
Issue date: 3/30/06 Section: Sports
The women's tennis team is off to a 2-0 start in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play after defeating Fontbonne at home March 24. Unfavorable weather conditions and the illness of two top players made it a close call for the Gorloks who took home the 5-4 win.
"It was pretty close," Coach Mike Siener said. "We ended up winning 5-4 and it really could have went either way."
Playing in cold weather under light snow wasn't a huge factor for the players Siener said, but the absence of senior Sarah Truckey and sophomore Raquel Rothermel made it difficult to solidify an easy win.
"We went into the match knowing we were better than Fontbonne and definitely knowing we were capable of winning," said sophomore Laila Wessel.
"But in my mind, even though we were missing two of our top players, I still knew we could win but I guess I didn't realize how close it would be."
Wessel said she was impressed by the team's ability to step up and take care of the open spots left by their teammates.
"Instead of it being one of those easy wins, it was definitely one of those hard-earned wins we were more proud of," Wessel said.
The women are excited about their 2-0 start this season, but Siener said the team's progress hasn't been a surprise.
"We knew going in as long as everybody is healthy and everybody is at the matches that we definitely could contend with Principia for the league title," Siener said. "I think we're talented enough to do that, but I don't know if we're deep enough."
"I think we've achieved a lot already and going into the next few games we know what we can do," Wessel said. "It's definitely a good thing to be up on the competition early on. We're aggressive and willing to try harder."
Webster traveled to Principia March 28 to vie for the top seed in the conference.
The Gorloks faced a team that hasn't had to struggle with Mother Nature so far this season. Principia is able to practice year-round in a state of the art, indoor facility. This, said Wessel, was a key factor in what became a 7-2 Gorlok loss.
"Everybody put up a good fight," Wessel said. "They're a very developed team and they've got an indoor court with great facilities."
"It was pretty close," Coach Mike Siener said. "We ended up winning 5-4 and it really could have went either way."
Playing in cold weather under light snow wasn't a huge factor for the players Siener said, but the absence of senior Sarah Truckey and sophomore Raquel Rothermel made it difficult to solidify an easy win.
"We went into the match knowing we were better than Fontbonne and definitely knowing we were capable of winning," said sophomore Laila Wessel.
"But in my mind, even though we were missing two of our top players, I still knew we could win but I guess I didn't realize how close it would be."
Wessel said she was impressed by the team's ability to step up and take care of the open spots left by their teammates.
"Instead of it being one of those easy wins, it was definitely one of those hard-earned wins we were more proud of," Wessel said.
The women are excited about their 2-0 start this season, but Siener said the team's progress hasn't been a surprise.
"We knew going in as long as everybody is healthy and everybody is at the matches that we definitely could contend with Principia for the league title," Siener said. "I think we're talented enough to do that, but I don't know if we're deep enough."
"I think we've achieved a lot already and going into the next few games we know what we can do," Wessel said. "It's definitely a good thing to be up on the competition early on. We're aggressive and willing to try harder."
Webster traveled to Principia March 28 to vie for the top seed in the conference.
The Gorloks faced a team that hasn't had to struggle with Mother Nature so far this season. Principia is able to practice year-round in a state of the art, indoor facility. This, said Wessel, was a key factor in what became a 7-2 Gorlok loss.
"Everybody put up a good fight," Wessel said. "They're a very developed team and they've got an indoor court with great facilities."