Julie SmithThe Cabrini College women’s tennis team has made it clear that the Fall 2003 season will be a memorable one. After a 9-0 victory over Alvernia on Monday, Sept. 8, the Lady Cavs are aware that their early success is due in part by a strong freshman turnout. “Our freshman girls are awesome,” junior Carrie Kaufman said. “We’re a young team, but we have five returning players this season.”
The Cavaliers finished third overall in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference last year, and this season the team hopes to improve on that. “Reggie Day is a great coach, and a good friend,” Kaufman said.
Day, head tennis coach for the last 16 years, was an avid tennis player since the age of 12. Day made his rounds to each of the matches to give his players helpful advice to improve their performance.
“This team is like one big family,” Day said. “Everyone gets along great and works together.”
After the 9-0 victory against Alvernia, Cabrini’s next challenge would be the University of Sciences of Philadelphia, at home. On Wednesday Sept. 10, at 4 p.m., the Cavaliers were still warming up while waiting for USP to arrive. Students and other fans began showing up to support their favorite players.
Mike Sofia, a junior, and member of the men’s tennis team, said, “I help with the girl’s team practices: they are a very strong squad this year.” Suddenly, Day called the Lady Cavs over to a shady spot under a tree. Day had them in a sort of pre-match huddle that one could only assume was aimed to stress what was talked about during practices. After a raucous cheer of “Go Cavs,” the group dispersed and the team stayed hydrated with water and fruit.
Aside from a few jokes and cheers, the Lady Cavs remained focused on the matches to come. With an all-star lineup including junior, Jen Keller; sophomore Tracy Stabler; and freshmen Caitlin Scott, Jenna Cane, and Jackie Creitghton, they ended the match with yet another 9-0 win against a disappointed USP.
Overall the women’s tennis team looks forward to a successful season under the leadership of Day. Day and the Lady Cavaliers gave a special thanks to Lesley Danehy, athletic director, for her role in convincing the NCAA to permit a pre-season for the regular season matches. Due to the fact that the NCAA considered tennis exclusively a spring sport, every year before this one, the fall squad was without a pre-season.
The Lady Cavs appear to be having a solid start, and under the guidance of Day, have displayed its intent to improve.
“When you have a job like this one, it’s a lot like a marriage,” Day said. “I have to sometimes stop and think how long I’ve been married for. It doesn’t really matter how long though because a satisfied coach doesn’t need to know when her or his contract expires.”
