Tennis 2018 Spring Slate Preview
Jan 16 | Women's Tennis
Scarlet Knights begin spring campaign at NJIT Invitational Jan. 20-21
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's tennis team is set to embark on its 2018 spring campaign this weekend. Led by second-year head coach Hilary Ritchie, the Scarlet Knight lineup includes six returners in Jaci Cochrane, Mingxiu Du, Chloe Lee, Lee Levy, Kat Muzik, Kyra Yap, and two newcomers in Isabelle Da Silva and Maya Jacobs.
"It feels great to be back on the court," said Ritchie. "The ladies did their homework over the break. They stayed in shape, they played tennis. I feel we had one of our better first weeks of practice."
The players agree that practice has been a great opening to the year.
"Practice is going really well so far," Lee echoed. "We have really been able to get used to the courts again, get used to the rhythm. Which I think is going to really help us as we start our season early. So far it has been challenging, it's been good."
SCHEDULE
The 2018 Rutgers tennis spring campaign features a two-day invitational, nine non-conference dual matches, and the 11-match Big Ten slate. It all begins with at the NJIT Invitational from Jan. 20-21, which will include flight play with Army, Fordham, and host NJIT.
"The flight tournament will prepare the team well for duals," said Ritchie. "I think it will take the nerves down and let them get some match play experience in a more comfortable setting. Especially for our freshmen, it will be a better transition for us to then host our first home match the following weekend."
Dual matches will follow, starting with Binghamton at the East Brunswick Racquet Club on Friday, Jan. 26. RU will also host Army (Jan. 31) and Seton Hall (Feb. 10) at EBRC.
"Tournament style allows us to play more matches than dual matches do so it will definitely help us prepare. Opening duals at home is definitely great to bring more people, more friends to cheer for us and play our best match," said Du.
Road competition kicks off at Delaware on Feb. 4 followed by UConn (Feb. 17), Cornell (Feb. 18), Princeton (Feb. 21), Yale (March 3) and Georgia Southern during spring break in Orlando, Florida, on March 11.
Big Ten action will begin in the Midwest at Wisconsin (March 16) and Minnesota (March 18). League road trips for the Scarlet Knights also include Northwestern (April 1), Michigan State (April 14) and 2017 Big Ten Tournament runner-up Michigan (April 15).
Rutgers debuts outdoors at the Tennis Complex on Busch Campus, weather permitting, on March 24 as host to Maryland. Other conference foes at home include Illinois (March 30), Nebraska (April 6), Iowa (April 8), Purdue (April 20) and Indiana (April 22).
"We are getting better every year. We know the Big Ten, we know the teams, we know some players. We know what it is like on the road. We are ready," said Levy.
BUILDING OFF THE FALL
In the fall, Rutgers competed in three invitationals as well as the ITA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships.
"Our fall had some ups and downs in terms of actual results, but we did get to see some improvement," said Ritchie. "We really got to work on our singles play and some technical areas. This spring we need to also focus on doubles play. Getting down to the important strategic aspect of doubles will be important."
Across the fall tournaments, Cochrane led the Scarlet Knights in singles play with nine wins followed by Muzik with seven victories. In doubles action, the duos of Jacobs and Muzik and Cochrane and Du each recorded four victories.
One of the main focuses for the spring is adding versatility to the chemistry of the lineup and getting each player comfortable with one another.
"We have discussed having our team be more flexible and play with a lot of players on the team," said Ritchie. "In terms of doubles, we are going to amp up our focus on consistent strategies across the board so they feel comfortable playing with everybody.
"Improving our singles can be more specific to each person, but we are really working on movement. Really working on getting out into the corners better and anticipating the short ball to get up and take advantage of those opportunities."
OUTLOOK
The adaptability to the pairs in the doubles lineup mixed with the tuned up technique in singles will be a great transition from the fall season to spring action. A spring slate that the team knows every match result is important.
"The thing I am most looking forward to and my main goal especially as a senior is to make the Big Ten Tournament," said Lee. "How you do in the beginning of the season and end of the season, every single match matters. Last year, we barely missed it by one or two spots so that is the main goal for probably the whole team."
The Scarlet Knights embark on that goal this weekend with great potential in the lineup and strong momentum surrounding the program.
"I'm very excited for this year. We have a great amount of potential," said Ritchie. "It will come down to that confidence and comradery in the close situations to know that we can do it. We have had so many successes in Rutgers Athletics with our sports in general right now so I hope that they are carrying on the high of all the great things. Rutgers is coming into its own and I want the team to feel the same way with tennis. We are right here with these other teams and we will break through."
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers tennis, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RutgersTennis). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersTennis).
"It feels great to be back on the court," said Ritchie. "The ladies did their homework over the break. They stayed in shape, they played tennis. I feel we had one of our better first weeks of practice."
The players agree that practice has been a great opening to the year.
"Practice is going really well so far," Lee echoed. "We have really been able to get used to the courts again, get used to the rhythm. Which I think is going to really help us as we start our season early. So far it has been challenging, it's been good."
SCHEDULE
The 2018 Rutgers tennis spring campaign features a two-day invitational, nine non-conference dual matches, and the 11-match Big Ten slate. It all begins with at the NJIT Invitational from Jan. 20-21, which will include flight play with Army, Fordham, and host NJIT.
"The flight tournament will prepare the team well for duals," said Ritchie. "I think it will take the nerves down and let them get some match play experience in a more comfortable setting. Especially for our freshmen, it will be a better transition for us to then host our first home match the following weekend."
Dual matches will follow, starting with Binghamton at the East Brunswick Racquet Club on Friday, Jan. 26. RU will also host Army (Jan. 31) and Seton Hall (Feb. 10) at EBRC.
"Tournament style allows us to play more matches than dual matches do so it will definitely help us prepare. Opening duals at home is definitely great to bring more people, more friends to cheer for us and play our best match," said Du.
Road competition kicks off at Delaware on Feb. 4 followed by UConn (Feb. 17), Cornell (Feb. 18), Princeton (Feb. 21), Yale (March 3) and Georgia Southern during spring break in Orlando, Florida, on March 11.
Big Ten action will begin in the Midwest at Wisconsin (March 16) and Minnesota (March 18). League road trips for the Scarlet Knights also include Northwestern (April 1), Michigan State (April 14) and 2017 Big Ten Tournament runner-up Michigan (April 15).
Rutgers debuts outdoors at the Tennis Complex on Busch Campus, weather permitting, on March 24 as host to Maryland. Other conference foes at home include Illinois (March 30), Nebraska (April 6), Iowa (April 8), Purdue (April 20) and Indiana (April 22).
"We are getting better every year. We know the Big Ten, we know the teams, we know some players. We know what it is like on the road. We are ready," said Levy.
BUILDING OFF THE FALL
In the fall, Rutgers competed in three invitationals as well as the ITA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships.
"Our fall had some ups and downs in terms of actual results, but we did get to see some improvement," said Ritchie. "We really got to work on our singles play and some technical areas. This spring we need to also focus on doubles play. Getting down to the important strategic aspect of doubles will be important."
Across the fall tournaments, Cochrane led the Scarlet Knights in singles play with nine wins followed by Muzik with seven victories. In doubles action, the duos of Jacobs and Muzik and Cochrane and Du each recorded four victories.
One of the main focuses for the spring is adding versatility to the chemistry of the lineup and getting each player comfortable with one another.
"We have discussed having our team be more flexible and play with a lot of players on the team," said Ritchie. "In terms of doubles, we are going to amp up our focus on consistent strategies across the board so they feel comfortable playing with everybody.
"Improving our singles can be more specific to each person, but we are really working on movement. Really working on getting out into the corners better and anticipating the short ball to get up and take advantage of those opportunities."
OUTLOOK
The adaptability to the pairs in the doubles lineup mixed with the tuned up technique in singles will be a great transition from the fall season to spring action. A spring slate that the team knows every match result is important.
"The thing I am most looking forward to and my main goal especially as a senior is to make the Big Ten Tournament," said Lee. "How you do in the beginning of the season and end of the season, every single match matters. Last year, we barely missed it by one or two spots so that is the main goal for probably the whole team."
The Scarlet Knights embark on that goal this weekend with great potential in the lineup and strong momentum surrounding the program.
"I'm very excited for this year. We have a great amount of potential," said Ritchie. "It will come down to that confidence and comradery in the close situations to know that we can do it. We have had so many successes in Rutgers Athletics with our sports in general right now so I hope that they are carrying on the high of all the great things. Rutgers is coming into its own and I want the team to feel the same way with tennis. We are right here with these other teams and we will break through."
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers tennis, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RutgersTennis). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersTennis).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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