PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Heading into the 2024 spring season, the Rutgers tennis team is ready to make its mark on history.
The Scarlet Knights are set to begin their campaign in a big way on Saturday, Jan. 20, competing in two dual matches, one on the road at Princeton (11 a.m.) and one at home against Howard (5 p.m.).
With the busy day to get the season underway, eighth-year head coach
Hilary Ritchie knows her team will have an opportunity for quick success.
"We have played a few doubleheaders before," Ritchie said. "Having it be an opener, everybody, if healthy, will get to play. I think it will be great for a team of 10 players."
Within the roster, the Scarlet Knights are rich in experience. There are seven upperclassmen – two juniors:
Minchae Kim and
Jackeline Lopez; four seniors:
Amira Badawi,
Chloe Brown,
Daira Cardenas, and
Tara Chilton; and one graduate transfer;
Yana Gurevich.
Two of those seven upperclassmen, Lopez and Brown, have been named the team's co-captains heading into the campaign. Brown will enter her second-straight year as captain, while Lopez earned the distinction for the first time in her career.
"We have so much experience and leadership," Ritchie pointed out. "I think that is going to help us during the season."
Alongside the seasoned players are two sophomores,
Mai Nguyen and
Arina Valitova, and one freshman,
Naomi Karki. Nguyen and Valitova gained a lot of experience in dual competitions a season ago, appearing in 22 and 20 matches, respectively. Karki seeks a similar impact in her rookie campaign.
"Having Naomi as our only freshman, it's neat, because I know that she looks up to (the upperclassmen)," Ritchie said. "They encourage her and enjoy helping her. While she played in the fall and got some tournament experience, there's nothing that quite replicates the dual match. The cheering is louder and there's more excitement. I know she is probably going to have those first-match nerves, and she will be able to rely on (teammates), especially in doubles when she has a partner who can help her through that."
With the experience, leadership, and support that lives within the Rutgers roster comes a sense of family the players and coaches pride themselves on.
"They are a very tight knit group," Ritchie added. "They refer to themselves as a family, so they have this level of respect and friendship that helps them on the court to trust themselves and each other. I'm really excited to see how those relationships translate into our matches."
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a successful fall schedule, when they posted a team record of 78-59 in singles and doubles competitions through seven events.
Leading the way in singles play was Kim, who claimed 17 total victories, nine singles and eight doubles.
Nguyen also had a strong showing, recording an 8-2 record in singles competitions. The sophomore finished the campaign on a five-match win streak which included two straight-set victories and three comeback wins.
In doubles, the pair of Nguyen and Badawi won five matches together, the most out of RU's 18 different duos.
Rutgers' spring schedule consists of 22 matches, 10 at home and 12 on the road. All home indoor matches will be played at the East Brunswick (N.J.) Racquet Club. Once the weather permits, the Scarlet Knights will move outdoors for their first-ever matches at the new courts on the Livingston Campus in Piscataway.
"The players already love the new facility, but they are going to have so much pride in showcasing it to their friends and family at that first match," Ritchie said. "They finally have a facility that matches their talent level."
Not only is the team excited to make its debut at the new facility on campus, the Scarlet Knights are ready to do a lot more, including making history. The players are ready to chase a world of success, and Ritchie is ready to see them do it.
"We certainly have talked a lot about goals that we want to pursue this season," she said. "This team wants to make some Rutgers tennis history. Our goals are lofty, but they're attainable and as long as we work hard and stay healthy, I'm excited to see what this group can do."
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