The Virginia women's tennis team heads to Tennessee this weekend for a pair of matches sure to provide a turning point for the season. The team faces Middle Tennessee State (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference) Friday, and will have a rematch against Tennessee (2-1, 0-0 Southeast Conference) Sunday.
Middle Tennessee comes into Friday's match after losing to 49th-ranked Ole Miss. The No.27 Cavaliers won their last pair of matches last weekend against Marshall and Davidson.
"I think Friday is going to be a difficult match," Virginia coach Mark Guilbeau said. "Middle Tennessee has a new coach who is doing a great job and who was a great player."
Ironically, Middle Tennessee's coach played in college for Tennessee, who the Cavaliers will face Sunday. In the Virginia Invitational in January, the Cavaliers fell to the Volunteers 4-3. This time around, Virginia comes into the match more prepared and with a better understanding of the objectives that need to be achieved.
In practice this week, the team has focused on small adjustments that should work to give the team an added boost. On top of these small adjustments, the fundamentals are continually drilled throughout each practice. Playing up on the baseline, hitting hard and stability have been key points of focus for the team this week.
"We're going to play Friday's match with the greatest respect in the world and get better," Guilbeau said. "Then we are going to take what we learn in that match and use it to better ourselves going into Sunday's match. It's a day-by-day process, so we'll look at the match on Friday and practice some on Saturday."
Any weak points that the team shows in Friday's match against an arguably weaker team will be exploited by a more skilled team.
An ongoing problem for the team throughout the season has been doubles competition. In practice, the team has been switching partners and working with new combinations, which have led to great improvement in that area.
Emotion also plays a large role in getting ahead in both matches. If a player comes into a match and becomes distracted and overly emotional, the opposing team gains a large advantage. Keeping focus and emotions under control will be a key factor for the Cavaliers, especially against the Volunteers Sunday.
"What I like as a coach is that they're focused and determined," Guilbeau said. "It's very easy at the beginning of the match to let your emotions get in the way and give the other team an advantage. You're not positive just because you're winning points; you have to positive even when the points might not be going your way every time."
Virginia will undoubtedly go into both of the weekend's matches with a thirst to win and will also go into Sunday's match with a need for revenge.
"Revenge is always fun," junior Lindsey Pereira said. "We're really looking to further the team this weekend and get to the place that we want to be."
Read More
Virginia baseball has an ace up its sleeve and in its bullpen — Dean Kampschror
By Xander Tilock | 13 hours agoThe senior pitcher is exactly what the Cavaliers need to succeed in 2025.
Wrestling gets blown out 34-9 on long road trip to Stanford
By Ryan Weiner | 2 days agoSolid performances from its most reliable trio were not enough for Virginia.
Freshman excellence powers No. 5 men’s tennis past Boise State, No. 19 Alabama
By Thomas Baxter | 2 days agoVirginia, unlike many other regional hosts, held serve as its quartet's top seed.
