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BLACKSBURG – Following months of offseason preparation and training fueled by a collective desire to take the program to new heights, the Virginia Tech women’s tennis team opens its fall season this weekend at the Virginia Fall Invitational, Sept. 23-25, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

It’s a team with a unique mix of seven returning players, many who were major contributors last season, six highly touted newcomers and one transfer student. As coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods begins her 14th season at the helm, she is looking forward to seeing the continued development of the seven veterans, and is equally excited for what the newcomers bring to Blacksburg.

With a new season on the horizon, Coach Zawacki-Woods sat down to discuss this year’s squad and the Tech women’s tennis program’s foundation for success this fall.

How has the team used the offseason to prepare for the upcoming tournaments this fall?

Coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods: We have been doing a lot of different practices. We’ve been working on our fitness and different strength workouts. We also have been doing a lot of individual workouts as well as team practices that include a lot of points and doubles combinations. We are trying to get a good feel for the girls, and we are working on getting their timing and rhythm back. We also are spending a lot of one-on-one time with them.

How does the fall schedule help the team prepare for the challenging spring slate?

TZ: I think we have a great fall schedule. There is a great mix of tournaments. We have a lot of strong tournaments and a lot of different teams that we will compete against. There is definitely a good variety. I am a firm believer in playing a lot of matches too, so I like the tournaments that we are competing in. The girls are going to have an opportunity to play a lot of matches at these tournaments, both singles and doubles. We are looking forward to this fall because it will help us determine the strength of our lineup and where everyone fits in. It also will help us find our best doubles combinations for the spring and help us gain the doubles point right from the get go.

In only a few short months, how have the new coaching additions of Will Davis and Patrick Letson helped with the overall player development?

TZ: It’s been great. I think we have a great mix of different experiences and different coaching backgrounds. Everyone has a different style, so it has been really nice to have that mix in there. The team is getting the best of both worlds, so it’s been a great transition for everybody so far.

How have the freshmen adjusted to Blacksburg?

TZ: They are doing great. It’s definitely a process that we go through and it is still new to them. It is still early, so we are still learning their personalities and what we can do to help them throughout this process. They also are still learning their teammates and coaches too. They are still trying to get comfortable around campus. I really feel that they are going to be great additions, and they are going to help add to our team. Again, we are just taking it day-by-day and getting the most out of the opportunities we have.

With a good mix of upperclassmen and newcomers on the roster, how has the team bonded as one unit in such a short period of team?

TZ: It’s going really well. It’s always a working progress, but I think it will continue to grow, especially with all the tournaments that we are traveling to. They will cheer each other on. It’s been a good start overall. They are starting to learn more and more about each other, and they are spending more time with the one’s that they didn’t know quite as well. It’s been going well, and we have been doing some really great team activities out there. We had a good time out in Charlotte (North Carolina), where we tried to go through some different exercises and experiences. It was very fun, but it’s always an ongoing process.

Where does the leadership role fall on the team and does anyone stand out as a leader this year?

TZ: Everyone has their own type of leadership style on the team. They are all adding something to the team right now. I think the upperclassmen are bringing that leadership experience from some of our former players that have been on the team. They are looking to really continue the tradition and culture that they have set forth. Even the new additions are bringing some type of leadership role as well. I think all of their personalities can bring something to our team, so we really look to all 14 to help us provide something rather than having one person singled out as a leader on the squad.

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