Caroline Bondi – Senior
Monica Zakaria – Senior
Vybav Hiraesave – Senior
Jesse Chalfin – Senior
Sarah Ehrenberg – Junior
Peri Sanders – Junior
Blake Dantzler – Junior
Erin Reid – Junior
William Rocker – Sophomore
Teams defeated this season: Penn, Rutgers, Lehigh, Rowan, St. Joes, University of Maryland, Pitt B Team, Bucknell, Villanova, Princeton
Q: How did you first hear about the Tennis on Campus program? What made you decide to actively take part and also become a leader on your campus? How do you feel about TOC and being a captain?
I first heard about the Tennis on Campus program through an older teammate I used to play with in high school. She recommended I play on the club team in college. I decided to take part and become a leader on campus because of my love for this sport. Some of my best friends in college have been made on the court. I saw the potential of my team and wanted to have a bigger role in helping to make my team the best they could be. My Co-President Monica and I are thrilled and honored to be TOC captains.
Q: How did you enjoy your National Championships experience last year?
Unfortunately, our team did not qualify for the national championships in 2015. This loss simply pushed us to play our best and we were able to work hard and get there this year.
Q: What does it mean to be back? Was it a more difficult road to return to Nationals?
The last time our team was at Nationals was in 2014. We missed the Nationals spot in a wildcard match for two other teams during the second day of Sectionals. This was a huge loss for our team, but we decided not to let that be the end of our season. We worked really hard in the spring and fall of 2015 with the goal of Nationals always in sight. It came down to a wildcard match against Villanova and our team was able to fill the last spot.
Q: In what ways has your team improved this year?
It’s amazing to see how much our team has grown and improved since Sectionals. I have never been more proud watching my teammates remain so calm under pressure and excel on the court. We realized we do our best when we are having fun on the court, so we tried to use approach every match relaxed and confident. Every one of the players spent their time improving their skills over the winter and summer breaks and left everything on the court. I couldn’t ask for a more dedicated group of individuals.
Q: What do you tell new players about Nationals, or players that are traveling for the first time to compete for your school?
I would tell new players that Nationals is an exciting time where teams from all over the country get to play and meet each other. It’s one of the best weeks of the year and is honestly so much fun. I’d also tell them not to be nervous and to have fun on the court because this time passes so fast.
Q: Who was your toughest opponent at past Nationals and how did they challenge you to become better?
In the past, we were crushed by South Carolina. Everyone on their team was incredibly talented and served as an essential asset to their team. That challenged our team to practice more, and work harder in the offseason. In the future we wanted to be ready for teams like South Carolina. They challenged us to practice harder and focus on specific skills that we lacked.
Q: Does your team actively use social media to stay connected? If so, what social media platforms are your favorites? Does your team use social media in any special way that you feel sets you apart from other teams?
Yes. Our team actively uses Facebook, Instagram and twitter. We also have our own team website through Google sites. We really enjoy Facebook because it keeps us the most connected to other teams and TOC events. Instagram is another favorite because it shows a lot about our team and how we are close on and off the court. We use social media to let our connections know more about our team personally and what we are up to. Recently we started doing player interviews. We interview any player on our team and ask them about their hobbies and other questions about tennis. We post their picture and the answers to their questions on our Facebook and Instagram. We feel like this gives insight into the variety and diversity our team has.
Q: Do you have many seniors on your team? Do you think they know about opportunities after graduation like “Sets in the City” or young adult social leagues? Do you think anyone on your team would be interested in starting one?
We have a bunch of seniors on the team, including myself. Four of the members on the Nationals team are seniors. We were not aware of the “Sets in the City” or adult social leagues but we would absolutely be interested in playing on or starting a team.
Share with us some of the ways you help out in the local and global communities in the name of tennis.
UD club tennis extends some love on and off the court. We believe it is important to give back to the community we are a part of. Over the summer, the team decided that it wanted to give back to a cause that meant a great deal to us, while also incorporating tennis. This fall, we held the first annual, “Serving For a Cure” doubles tournament. The tournament was held on parents weekend and many of our members teamed up to play doubles with their parents. All of the proceeds went to the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. This foundation honors the life of Andrew McDonough who battled leukemia, septic shock and complications of childhood cancer before passing away in 2007, at the age of 14. B+ was Andrew’s blood type and became the motto during his battle- to “Be Positive.”
His family started this foundation to provide financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer nationwide. The B+ Foundation also funds critical, cutting edge childhood cancer research. Everyone at UD knows this story and spreads awareness for the cause through UDance, a 12-hour dance marathon that involves canning and various forms of fundraising throughout the year. This year, club tennis made its own UDance team and plans to dance in March.
Our goal was to raise $1,000 for the B+ foundation but we exceeded that goal and raised $1,300 for the B+ Foundation at our mixed doubles tournament. There were more than 30 teams that signed up to play. The team designed t-shirts to sell and sold raffle tickets for gift cards and prizes as well. The tournament was such a success that we plan on making it an annual tradition to hold every fall.
The team supports other clubs on our campus as well. We found a way to put those dead tennis balls to good use. The Puppy Raisers of the University of Delaware (PRoUD) is a Registered Student Organization at the University of Delaware that raises puppies for The Seeing Eye. The tennis team donated bags and bags of dead tennis balls to the program so their dogs could have a toy to chew on. These tennis balls can keep the dogs occupied as they are exposed to different environments while preparing to be guide dogs.
In the spring of 2015, our team pitched in and donated tennis racquets to Silver Lake Elementary School in Middletown, Delaware. The school had a volunteer summer program that taught young children how to play tennis. Tennis has served as an influential part in many of our lives; many of our teammates grew up on the court. Children deserve the chance to find themselves in tennis and the team tries its best to make sure that happens.
This past February, some team members volunteered at Downes Elementary School in Newark, Delaware, for a Family Healthy Heart Night. We assisted with the tennis station and showed the kids what tennis is all about.
Share with us a funny story about the 2015 team or team member(s).
A funny story was when we were all getting ready to play at Sea Colony and one of our teammates, Sarah Ehrenberg, was telling us how you can tell if your tennis shoe is supportive. According to her podiatrist, if the shoe can bend in the middle, then it is not sturdy enough. So naturally all 10 of us are sitting in the living room trying to see if our shoes bend and then arguing that they are still supportive. It was quite the sight and really funny.
If a local newspaper was to write a story about your team what is the one thing you’d want to make sure they included?
I would want them to include that our team is growing in so many ways. Each member of the team contributes something unique and valuable. I’d want them to include our story about losing at Sectionals last year yet never losing determination to make it in 2016. I am so proud of all my members because everyone leaves it out on the court. They give 110 percent every time, and as co-presidents, we couldn’t ask for anything more. Not only does this team give their time on the court, it values the importance of giving back to the community off the court.
