Despite getting off to a great start and beginning the season with two impressive wins, 5-2 over Eastern Michigan and 7-0 over Oakland the women's tennis team is not satisfied with its performances this past Sunday.
Head coach Simone Jardim believes the team played well, but for the level of competition the Spartans results in the matchups were expected by Jardim.
"They did what they had to do to get the wins," Jardim said. "For now on (we need to) keep working and getting better each day...for some of them (it was) a long day (with two matches).
"As far as level of play, (the team) did what they had to do (earning wins)."
Jardim will certainly be looking for improvement from freshman Lexi Baylis the next time out. Baylis started in an early hole but came back to win her first set 7-6 and eventually won in straight sets.
"I think Lexi (Baylis) for instance came out a little flat but then she got her act together and was able to turn it over and it was fine," Jardim said.
Freshman Colleen O'Brien won both her doubles and singles match against the Golden Grizzles Sunday evening, and said she believes the team is in a good place right now.
"The team has been doing really well, I think everyone is in good spirits and everyone is pumped up for the season, everyone (has been) working hard so hard work pays off," O'Brien said.
The team is looking to improve before it travels to California to play games against No. 6-ranked California-Berkeley on Jan. 25 and either St. Mary's or Fresno State on Jan. 26. Sophomore Anna Zelechonok knows that it begins with preparation in practice.
"(We need) a good week of practice, solid hitting, working on little things that we need to touch up on," Zelechonok said. "I think that it's going to be a lot more challenging, (we're) playing some ranked teams, but I think it comes down to focusing on what's on your side of the net and letting the mistakes come from the other side."
Jardim believes her team has the ability to do great things when they are playing smart and is looking for them to improve on the little things before the trip to California.
"It's is a totally different playing situation (in California), we go from indoor tennis to outdoor tennis," Jardim said. "It's a different scenario, its stiffer competition, we haven't played on the west coast for a long time now, we definitely need to work on a few things...just little details."
"I think when we're playing well, playing smart, we're a very good team."
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