| In final season, women’s tennis team soaking up the moments BY MIKE UNGER Sometimes it’s about more than wins and losses. As the AU women’s tennis program begins its final season, coach Carol Daniels and her players have accepted their fate and shifted their focus toward competing and enjoying their remaining time on the court. The results thus far have been encouraging. The team defeated Holy Cross and George Mason and played tough in close losses to Howard and Army, schools that shut out the Eagles last year. “For a team that’s maybe not as talented, we’re actually competing and doing better,” Daniels said. “Last year I think we were kind of in a state of shock. We’re a lot better emotionally. This year they know they stayed here for the academics and what they do on the tennis court is an extension of that.” AU’s top player is cocaptain Julia Colarusso, who also played No. 1 singles last year when she earned first team All-Patriot League honors. The junior from Dowington, Pa., is pleased with her performance thus far this season and is drawing on the experience she gained last year playing the opponents’ best. “I think I learned last year how to kind of be myself a little more on the court,” Colarusso said. “I’ve learned how to manage my own court and stay focused. Against better players, there are no free points.” The Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League in a preseason poll voted on by coaches and sports information directors. That doesn’t bother Daniels, in her tenth year at the helm. “Over the years we’ve been picked one, two—it’s just a number,” she said. “I just want the kids to go out there to enjoy themselves and to enjoy the moment and do the best they can and not be focused on winning and losing so much. If they play their best then there’s nothing I can be upset about. If we’re able to compete, we’ll be happy.” Following last year’s decision to eliminate the tennis program, Daniels lost all of her recruits and three players from the team. She filled out this year’s roster with students already enrolled at AU. “I lucked out that there were some good players who were already in school here,” Daniels said. “I have tryouts every fall, and three of the kids that are on the team tried out in the last year.” Colarusso and cocaptain Brandi Kligman have been satisfied with the way their less seasoned teammates have played. “We have some young girls on the team who are a little less experienced but they’re adapting as quickly as they can,” Colarusso said. “Everyone is putting forward a solid effort. We’re really just trying to maintain a strong sense of togetherness and to keep our morale high, remain competitive, and enjoy ourselves.” As the sun sets on women’s tennis at AU, Daniels and her players are holding their heads high, leaving it all on the court. “Every time we set foot on the court, they take a lot of pride in representing the school, no matter what has happened,” Daniels said. |
