Northwestern’s Women’s Tennis team has had a season full of ups and downs. They currently hold a six-seven record and have high hopes to make it into the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) tournament at the end of the season on April 25.
“The GPAC teams are tough all around,” NW Head Women’s Tennis Coach Jaime De Jong said. “We will be very competitive versus Doane, Hastings, CSM and Mount Marty. Concordia and Morningside are the most difficult to overcome. It would be an honor to make the tournament, considering the high level of competition.”
Tennis is a very mental and strategic sport.
“Tennis is a game that looks easy until you play it,” De Jong said. “It is a battle of controlling the mind and staying in a place of positivity, especially when you are up against a Goliath.” Matches can get difficult when the court is quiet but your mind is loud. The Raiders work hard to stay in the right mental space and train to play well both individually and for the team.
Though matches do not always go to plan, the community that the team provides for these players brings the necessary encouragement.
“My favorite thing about NW tennis is spending time with my teammates,” Senior Ainslie Robinson said. “Tennis has allowed me to form strong friendships with both underclassmen and other upperclassmen.” The unity that has formed among players of all classes and abilities contributes to the steady optimism that fuels the team.
De Jong attributes other parts of the team’s strength to the integration of international athletes and new talent from freshmen who have helped boost the varsity level. Ultimately, De Jong reminds her players what really matters.
“I encourage our team to lean on the Lord,” De Jong said. “We do not have to battle alone, and that also includes the tennis court.”
With a great team community and a competitive atmosphere, NW Women’s Tennis has set themselves up for a successful season. Currently, the Raiders have five more matches until the GPAC tournament. It will be exciting to see what the final few games will bring.
The Women’s Tennis team has built a great community.
