Tennis looks to build on last year's success
By Matt PetersenSports Editor, The VOICE
Expectations? Bring 'em on.
That's the attitude the men's and women's tennis teams share at Glendale Community College this year.
Both teams placed in the conference last seaosn, and both are hungry for me in 2009.
The boldest statement came from sophomore Ashley Kildoo of the women's team.
"I think we're going to go all the way to be honest," Kildoo stated. "We're just fierce."
Strong words, given that Scottsdale Community College went undefeated last year. But that seems to be the general sentiment throughout the tennis program.
"I think we can match if not better our success from last year," said Coach Chris Tolson.
The coaching staff has taken measures to make sure the teams are as well-rounded as possible before season play begins next week.
Last year it was all about power, trying to smash the ball into people's faces," Kildoo said. "This year, Chris has really shown us that to win a match you have to keep playing and getting the ball back in and beating your opponent down."
The teams have also gone at lengths off the courts to ensure team goals and unity are at their optimum before the first serve of the 2009 season.
I wouldn't even say that we're a team this year. I'd say that we're more like a family," Kildoo said.
"At the beginning of the season we had a talk saying that we should do stuff outside of tennis. We should talk to each other outside of tennis so we can become more like friends than just teammates that way we grow together as a whole."
Glendale's match of the season will be against none other than Scottsdale next Tuesday. The women host Scottsdale at 1:30 while the men are away.
