At the Net with Chloe Sher
1/20/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Sophomore Chloe Sher (Shui Wai, Hong Kong) enters the 2012 season coming off a highly successful freshman campaign. Playing her entire season at the top of the lineup, Sher posted 20 total victories in 2010-11, the ninth highest single season total in school history.
In fall 2011, Sher remained a steady presence for the Pirates. The sophomore recorded four victories on her way to capturing a consolation bracket at the highly competitive Eastern Intercollegiate Championships. Sher also advanced past the first round of the ITA Regional Tournament in both singles and doubles play for the second consecutive year.
As the team prepares for their first match of the spring, Sher took some time out to discuss her game and the upcoming season.
Q: In tennis, freshmen often have to adapt to the college level a lot quicker than in other sports. What was it like to play in the number one singles spot in your first year?
Sher: It was a great experience to play against the best players from other schools. Even though I played No.1, I didn't feel too much pressure because all my teammates were very supportive and Coach Wyzykowski helped me a lot. I went on the court, played my best, and had fun and I feel like I learned a lot out of every match last year that will help me moving forward.
Q: How do you feel your game has improved since last season?
Sher: My game is more consistent compared to last year. One of the biggest things I have focused on is controlling my emotions on the court. Before, I would get mad at myself and I would get out of my rhythm easily. Now, I am better at keeping each point in perspective and I know that I am not out there by myself; I am part of the team. It keeps me calm so I can do better in matches. I also think that improvement in physical fitness has helped my game a lot.
Q: What are some of the main points you took away from the fall season?
Sher: Fall tournaments have given us a great warm-up for our season. It gave me and Rocio [Portela] a chance to know what we have to work on during doubles match-play. We have been working hard to be able to apply the things we learned and be ready for the spring season. Also, my teammates did very well in those tournaments so I am confident that we can do well in our season. Maybe the most important thing about the fall tournaments is we had a chance to come together, include our freshmen and build a strong team dynamic as we head into the spring.
Q: What do you think are some of the keys to the team's success this spring?
Sher: I think the key is to be confident. If we stay focused every match and go out there with the belief that we can win, I think we can be very competitive. It will also be important to secure the doubles point because that can really give our team an edge in dual matches.
Q: What would it mean to you to help the team qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament?
Sher: It would mean a lot to me because it would be the first time for me to play in the tournament. We were very close to making it last year so I am excited for what we can achieve this year.
