Hoosiers record strong showing at Wake Forest tournament

Members of the IU women’s tennis team can be happy as they reflect on last weekend’s tournament.\nThe Deacon Classic, held at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., was the first fall tournament for the Hoosiers, and the team’s results over the weekend showed that – despite its youth – IU can look forward to more wins in the fall schedule.\nOf the 10 players on the team, senior Brianna Williams, sophomores Lindsey Stuckey and Erin Clark and freshmen Maria Guerrerio and Ekaterina Zapadalova advanced to their singles flight final. Both Clark and Martin won their flights, while Williams and Guerreiro both advanced to the finals in Singles Flight Six. The teams of Williams and Zapadalova and Clark and Guerreiro won their doubles flights as well.\nIU coach Lin Loring said he was pleased with the team’s showing.\n“I thought they played well. I thought it was a great first tournament for them,” Loring said. “It was a really good tournament to experience.”\nFreshman Charlotte Martin completed her first fall tournament by winning her flight over Wake Forest senior Jenna Loeb 6-3, 6-0. \n“It was nice to play some matches; it was nice to get back into competition,” Martin said.\nDespite the tough, competitive environment, the team kept its spirit up. \n“We had a good team atmosphere,” Martin said. “We had a lot of support for each other.”\nWhile Martin’s success bodes well for her and the team, she recognizes that practice will allow her singles and doubles game to improve.\n“Once we play together a little bit more, we’ll understand each other’s games more,” Martin said, who paired with Stuckey in her doubles flight.\nWilliams, the team captain, was also happy with the results.\n“Everybody competed really well, especially the four new incoming freshmen,” Williams said.\nPaired with Zapadalova of Russia, the duo not only reached the finals, but won their flight.\n“(Zapadalova) was great to play with,” Williams said. “She was really tired, she had a really long singles match before we played our match, but I was really proud of her for sticking through.”\nThe players are looking forward to their upcoming fall tournaments as well. \n“I’m really excited about the one in Indiana,” Williams said\nIU will host the Hoosier Classic at the IU Tennis Center the weekend of Oct. 5, which will allow the team to play in front of a cheering home crowd.\nThe tournament will be a nice break before a grueling October schedule.\n“It’ll be the first time competing on our home court, so I think it’ll be a good atmosphere,” Williams said.\nBut before the team’s focus shifts to another tournament, it will enjoy some rest and recuperation. \n“We’re pretty tired,” Williams said, “but everybody is proud of how they competed.”