The USTA update

Lucky Stars
I have played almost every match for my indoor NOVA team, and all of them at singles save one doubles match. I felt a bit like a fish out of water for that doubles match, though it was competitive (a loss at 3 and 4), and I had a great partner (shoutout to Esther!). Two of the singles matches I won were against 3.0s playing up, and I beat them handily. I had a few close losses that I feel I should have won, but my nerves and lack of smart choices during tiebreaks did me in! All in all, I have played quite a few different types and styles of players, and I've learned a lot! I will refrain from mentioning the style that gives me the most trouble for right now...never know who lurks!

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I know, not the most glamorous name for a tennis team, but hey, we're sponsored! We're hoping that one day we'll all get free BMW's out of this deal! Good thing we aren't holding our collective breath on that, though.

Though I'm not listed as the official captain, I actually captain this team, with some help from our former captain, L (who just needed a break from captaining for personal reasons) and F, another teammate. We're doing really well, great in fact. If we keep it up, there just might be a trip to sectionals in August. Too early to tell for sure, as we have four more matches to go, and two of those matches are against tough teams.

This team is a blast though. We're doing great, and we are not put together to be 'one of those teams'...we did not specifically select and woo people in order to get to post season. We just go out, play, have fun, and are a very nice group of ladies.

I have played both singles and doubles for this team. Since we lost one of our singles players, I have filled in at singles, and I'm starting to feel more 'at home' with singles than doubles. And I'm totally okay with that.

Tennacity
Oh, the outdoor league where it all began. I actually didn't think I was going to be playing when the season got started. I hadn't heard a peep from the captain, but I had told her 'no hard feelings' if there was no room for me. Well, turned out there was room, as she is trying to get as big a roster as possible so, in case of a trip to Districts, we aren't left short of people.

Districts is a good possibility here, though not a lock yet. There are only two other teams in this league, but they are both populated by some really good, strong players. In fact, the only two matches I've played for Tennacity (both doubles) I've lost. I don't think there is room for me at singles, though I wish there were!

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All in all, I'm learning a lot this season. Definitely won't get bumped up, but definitely won't get bumped down either. The season has left me with some very clear things to work on.
1. Footwork. My god, will I never be fast? I lost almost 30 lbs during the 'off season', and I'm STILL SLOW.
2. Still would like to lose 15-20 more lbs...will do nothing but help those joints! And, my apparent sloth-like speed.
3. That certain type of ball I have trouble with...more here later!

Indoor has three more matches, in fact, I'll be leaving for one in about 45 minutes. DC has four more, outdoor has two, though I don't think I'll be scheduled for them (as I already played my two matches).