The Florida A&M Women’s tennis team is eager to capture the first tourney win of the 2010 season as they compete in this weekend’s Kennesaw State Fall Invitational.
The tournament is being hosted by the Kennesaw State University Owls tennis program that represents the Atlantic Sun conference.
The two other top programs involved in competition include the Division I Georgia Southern Eagles of the Southern conference and the Chattanooga Mocs of the Big South Conference.
FAMU head coach Rochelle “Nikki” Goldthreate said the practices leading up to the tournament have been about working on flaws the team has displayed in past tournaments.
“These past couple of days we’ve been working on our consistency, patience and energy,” she said. “We have to have a higher level of energy going on the court, we’re going to focus on our chemistry in doubles matches and improve on what we’ve done before for our singles.”
Junior Britney Dean said along with providing several of their individual strengths, it’s all in the team’s demeanor that will determine how far the Lady Rattlers will advance.
“I’ve been working on my back hand, getting more top spin along with volleys and overheads,” Dean said. “I’m pretty much using the individual practices to work on my weak points so I can make the corrections that I need to make. We have to both look and feel like we want to be out there and if that happens the rest will take care of itself.”
Junior Kathline Durden said the team has the abilities to hit big shots, but will have to maintain their composure during every played point.
“Our team has the shots to win, but it’s just, can we make it far enough in the point to get those shots? We have to be aggressive against the opposition and attack the net throughout this tournament,” Durden said.
The Florida A&M women’s tennis team will be in competition on Friday and Saturday. Each draw will be played to completion to determine first through eighth places in every draw.
During the KSU Tournament, there will be four flights of singles matches and two flights of doubles matches.