(Angelina Dohre/Photo Editor)
ANDREW RICHARDSON
Special to The Leader
“Honestly, it is amazing having such an outstanding record this year. I did not know what to expect going into this season, especially after losing so many players from last year but everyone has surprised me,” said Anna Chiacchia, a sophomore on the women’s tennis team.
“I practiced a lot of tennis over the summer, hitting with my personal tennis coach and my two sisters almost every day. When I got back to school this Fall I saw an improvement not only in myself, but the whole team. Everyone back from last year has improved tremendously, and we got so many great new players as well. We all continued to help each other improve every day and make ourselves better which has reflected on our great record this season.”
Fredonia women’s tennis has been on a roll this season, piling up wins on their way to a 9-2 regular season record. You could definitely understand Chiacchia’s comment about heading into this season by the fact that they lost five seniors from last year.
The Blue Devils will not look back as the young squad has tied last year’s regular season record for wins with only one senior rostered.
The play of Sarah Bunk, a freshman music education major, has been a huge reason for this surprise success in a rebuilding year with her season record of 10-1.
Bunk explained that Fredonia showcased its talents early on while teaching her about college level tennis. “In my first season at Fredonia, I didn’t know what to expect coming in. But I’ve been able to learn so much from my teammates. Especially these girls, Liv and Anna. They’ve helped me grow as a player and as a competitor. So I’m very proud of our team for all working together and helping each other to have such a successful season.”
Chiacchia, an applied mathematics major and the regular season record holder with 11 wins last year, got to a solid 9-2 this year and Olivia Miller, a junior exercise science major, posted a 10-1 regular season record.
“It feels really great to have my efforts and hard work from the past few years show through in my record. But more importantly, I really think the team has a good chance of making ourselves known at SUNYACS,” said Miller, who serves as the team captain and currently holds a 10-1 record. “The past years, we have put in a great effort but would not have the score show it, but I think this year the team will be excited to go out there and get as far as we can.”
Coach Gregory Catalano made some comments on how this young team managed to get to a number two seed heading into the big SUNYAC tournament match against Cortland, “The thing I preach to them all the time is ‘Iron sharpens iron’ which translates into make each other better by competing hard against each other everyday in practice. Push your teammates to be their best. My approach to coaching college versus high school is different. I believe the college student/ athletes need to take ownership in the process by offering ideas, and expressing their concerns for the team. I encourage discourse and am not afraid to be challenged. I think that is healthy.”
Granted, Catalano seemed a bit nervous to face Cortland. “SUNYAC will be difficult this year. We could be without some key players, but we will not make excuses. We will do our best,” said Catalano.
Catalano was right as freshman star Bunk could not make the playoff matchup against Cortland because of an academic commitment on that same Saturday.
The final loss of the regular season made it even more tough as Fredonia would be taking on the number three seed Cortland, in the first round.
The young Blue Devils left it all out on the court. In Bunk’s absence, Avril King, a junior communications major, stepped up in a big way. She tallied two wins for her team, one via doubles and one via singles.
These were the only two points the Blue Devils scored against Cortland as the final score read 5-2, Cortland.
After the loss, spirits were still high for the Blue Devils, as coach Catalano stated that the young team set making the playoffs as their personal goal prior to the start of the season. “It feels wonderful. We have achieved our goal this season. We are better people after this experience together.”
Taylor Rubens, freshman special education major, had this to say about the season, “having an outstanding record is such an accomplishment, the girls have worked hard to achieve this record. Sarah, Olivia and Anna are such key components to the team and have really worked hard to help us gain the record. Without them, I still think we’d have a winning record but it would not be as high as it is.”
Bunk, Miller and Chiacchia seemed to be the main theme when people on the team talked about what made them successful this season.
King had a unique take on the three stars of the team, “Sarah, Olivia and Anna may be some of the people working the hardest for our team. They deserve all of the success they have been seeing, and without them, I don’t think we would be seeing the same results.”
Pictured left to right: Sarah Bunk, Olivia Miller and Anna Chiacchia
Angelina Dohre/Photo Editor
Editor’s note: Avril King is the Social Media Manager for The Leader.