University of Houston Athletics
Making a Racquet - Vol. 14
4/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
(Editor's Note: "Making a Racquet" is written by senior women's tennis player Charlotte Phillips, who is interning with the Houston Athletics Communications department this semester. Throughout the season, Charlotte will provide a behind-the-scenes look into the Cougar tennis program, including practice stories, match recaps, interesting anecdotes and notes from the road. Today's entry looks back on two road victories and Senior Day against SMU.)
VOLUME XIV - APRIL 9, 2015
 | A SENIOR MOMENT |
After a weekend on the road, we managed to make the record books yet again as we earned two tough wins over Tulsa and North Texas to increase our winning streak to 15 matches.
As with every match, we take something from it to progress and get better, but what we learned from that weekend was how seven girls cheering can take on fifty-odd Tulsa fans cheering, "Houston we have a problem!" throughout the match. It's a line that I have never heard someone shout in my four years, and we found it rather amusing! However, with Tina's clinching power in both matches, we soon solved the problem and earned two tough wins on the road.
Three days later, we took on SMU on Wednesday, and it wasn't just any day. It was Senior Day for myself and Elena. It was also our last home match of the season, and we finished on a high. The win gave us our 20th win of the season and also earned us a 16-match winning streak.
Bittersweet is the word I would use to sum up the whole senior thing. On one hand, it's a great feeling; after four years of hard work, dedication and commitment, you get to see the finish line and something great come out at the end. But it is also a very sad feeling to know that your college tennis career and life as a student-athlete are coming to an end.
I remember the first time that I walked on to the courts for my first practice session, as a shy, inexperienced and homesick freshman. Coming from the English weather, I wasn't able to last more than a 20-minute hit in the Houston heat... how things have changed!
I think I speak for both myself and Elena when I say Wednesday was a feeling of emotional ups and downs. I have played on those courts for four years of my life. I have had some great times on those courts, played some of my best tennis, and had a lot of laughs. I have also been able to look to the courts next to me and see my teammates fighting hard and cheering on for each another. I also think it's fair to say, as with most sports, there were some not so good times -- tears and tantrums after a tough loss and times when I was tempted to smash my racket in half!
I was proud to see the team dominate the Mustangs. The doubles point set the mood for the day, as it was quick and fiery and the two wins came from Elena and Debbie, and Tina and Rocio. It didn't take long to finish the singles in the same way, as Debbie was first to get the win to make it 2-0, followed by a win from Rocio for a 3-0 lead, and then finally, in true senior fashion, Elena won her match to clinch the fourth point.
I was overwhelmed with the amount of support and help I have had over the years, and it showed by how many people came out on the day.
I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone, including administration, compliance, academic staff, athletic trainers, sports performance, communications, donors, UH alumni, Houston Country Club staff, and last but not least, all of the family and friends who came out to support us on our special day!
It might have been our last home match, but isn't all over just yet, as we now head to the most important part of our year: postseason play. We begin our postseason campaign next Wednesday, when we travel back to Tulsa for Conference, and for all the fans who can't make it to Tulsa, the matches will be streamed lived online for you to watch and cheer us on straight from your living room!
Here's to Senior Day!
Charlotte
Players Mentioned
