SE: K-State Tennis Brings Consistent Preparation, High Confidence and Pressure-Free Mindset to NCAA Championship
May 10, 2018 | Tennis, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Normally, the K-State women's tennis banquet serves as a capstone to the season. Seniors are recognized, accomplishments are highlighted and the future is referenced in terms of the next season.
This year's Wildcat team changed that norm by making the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2003 and fourth time in program history.
K-State's two seniors, Carolina Costamagna and Carolina Lewis, were still recognized at Monday's banquet. The Wildcats' many achievements, such as tying for the third-most wins in program history, were still brought up. But the future was talked about in a much nearer tense, as in this Friday at noon when K-State (14-10) faces Kentucky (14-10) in the first round of the NCAA Championship in Evanston, Illinois.
"It's the first time in 15 years, so that's pretty exciting," K-State head coach Danielle Steinberg said after Monday's banquet. "I think it gives it a different feel. It's not really the end. It's just a celebration of our season and how we're still getting ready for this weekend."
"Seeing them in August get to where they are now, that we can say in May that we're still playing, it's just worlds apart," added associate head coach Jordan Smith. "And they're still growing, so that's even better."
The Wildcats, while aware of the rarity of their accomplishment, are also not blowing it up in their heads. Aside from the mental challenge of juggling finals and practice, their preparation, level of focus and confidence has remained the same.
"We still do the same things and we just keep going like we have been the entire semester," said sophomore Ines Mesquita, who posted an 11-4 record in singles this season. "It doesn't change just because we're going to Regionals. We're just keeping up the good work we've been doing throughout the entire semester."
Freshman Maria Linares, who went 13-6 in singles this spring, echoed Mesquita's thoughts.
"We feel all the matches are the same. We play all the matches with the same emotion," she said. "It's not, 'We're in the national tournament, this is more important than the season.'"
Seemingly all season, K-State has played against NCAA Championship-caliber teams.
The Wildcats faced off with nine teams in the field during the regular season, including three of the top-16 seeds in Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Texas. K-State also battled against Oklahoma, Washington State and Nebraska, all three of which are ranked in the top 50 of the Oracle/ITA rankings and just missed the cut for the NCAA Championship.
"I think we're well prepared," Mesquita said. "The Big 12 is a strong conference so we've played against some really good teams throughout the semester. It's just another match against another good team."
K-State lost its most recent match, 4-1 to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals, but the Wildcats gained plenty of confidence by the way they played.
When the Wildcats faced the Red Raiders earlier in the season, they lost 4-0 and only won two sets in singles. In their more recent battle with the NCAA Championship's No. 11 overall seed, Linares won at No. 2 singles while three other teammates went to three sets against nationally ranked Red Raiders.
"We lost 4-1 but we were neck and neck with them," Steinberg said. "At the end, we told the girls that this is what this team can be. We don't need much to be at that level."
K-State aims to prove exactly that this weekend.
"I feel like we're really glad to be there and we don't really have the pressure," Mesquita said. "We know we're going to go there and give it our best. I think it's going to be good because nobody expects us to do really good because it's our first time there, so I feel like that gives us more excitement to be there and prove that we can do a lot more than what they think.
"I think we can play better just knowing nobody really expects us to do great. It makes us want to play better and just play free."
Normally, the K-State women's tennis banquet serves as a capstone to the season. Seniors are recognized, accomplishments are highlighted and the future is referenced in terms of the next season.
This year's Wildcat team changed that norm by making the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2003 and fourth time in program history.
K-State's two seniors, Carolina Costamagna and Carolina Lewis, were still recognized at Monday's banquet. The Wildcats' many achievements, such as tying for the third-most wins in program history, were still brought up. But the future was talked about in a much nearer tense, as in this Friday at noon when K-State (14-10) faces Kentucky (14-10) in the first round of the NCAA Championship in Evanston, Illinois.
"It's the first time in 15 years, so that's pretty exciting," K-State head coach Danielle Steinberg said after Monday's banquet. "I think it gives it a different feel. It's not really the end. It's just a celebration of our season and how we're still getting ready for this weekend."
"Seeing them in August get to where they are now, that we can say in May that we're still playing, it's just worlds apart," added associate head coach Jordan Smith. "And they're still growing, so that's even better."
The Wildcats, while aware of the rarity of their accomplishment, are also not blowing it up in their heads. Aside from the mental challenge of juggling finals and practice, their preparation, level of focus and confidence has remained the same.
"We still do the same things and we just keep going like we have been the entire semester," said sophomore Ines Mesquita, who posted an 11-4 record in singles this season. "It doesn't change just because we're going to Regionals. We're just keeping up the good work we've been doing throughout the entire semester."
Freshman Maria Linares, who went 13-6 in singles this spring, echoed Mesquita's thoughts.
"We feel all the matches are the same. We play all the matches with the same emotion," she said. "It's not, 'We're in the national tournament, this is more important than the season.'"
Seemingly all season, K-State has played against NCAA Championship-caliber teams.
The Wildcats faced off with nine teams in the field during the regular season, including three of the top-16 seeds in Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Texas. K-State also battled against Oklahoma, Washington State and Nebraska, all three of which are ranked in the top 50 of the Oracle/ITA rankings and just missed the cut for the NCAA Championship.
"I think we're well prepared," Mesquita said. "The Big 12 is a strong conference so we've played against some really good teams throughout the semester. It's just another match against another good team."
K-State lost its most recent match, 4-1 to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals, but the Wildcats gained plenty of confidence by the way they played.
When the Wildcats faced the Red Raiders earlier in the season, they lost 4-0 and only won two sets in singles. In their more recent battle with the NCAA Championship's No. 11 overall seed, Linares won at No. 2 singles while three other teammates went to three sets against nationally ranked Red Raiders.
"We lost 4-1 but we were neck and neck with them," Steinberg said. "At the end, we told the girls that this is what this team can be. We don't need much to be at that level."
K-State aims to prove exactly that this weekend.
"I feel like we're really glad to be there and we don't really have the pressure," Mesquita said. "We know we're going to go there and give it our best. I think it's going to be good because nobody expects us to do really good because it's our first time there, so I feel like that gives us more excitement to be there and prove that we can do a lot more than what they think.
"I think we can play better just knowing nobody really expects us to do great. It makes us want to play better and just play free."
Players Mentioned
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