The ASU women’s tennis team used the summer to recover and condition for the upcoming season, but it wasn’t your typical, humdrum training routine.
The team had cells on three continents, honing their skills and earning accolades.
Junior Sianna Simmons spent her summer in Spain participating in a study abroad program. Though she was busy juggling two classes and learning to speak Spanish, Simmons found time to keep training for the upcoming season.
“It was really hard to play tennis because I had a lot of schoolwork and classes, and on the weekends we went to different parts of Spain,” Simmons said. “I didn’t play much, but ran over there. I worked out and ran a lot outside because they don’t have many gyms in Spain.”
With school back in session, ASU tennis coach Sheila McInerney isn’t working the girls too hard yet. For the time being, she is focused on letting the players get acclimated to classes and the Arizona heat.
“They’ve worked out a lot this summer,” McInerney said. “A lot have played over the summer. It’s not easy coming back to 110 degrees and humidity so we have to be smart about it.”
The weather change is especially intense for the players that went home to Australia for the summer, where they actually experienced winter.
Junior Michelle Brycki returned to Sydney where she spent time with family and practiced tennis with her younger sister.
“I went home and had winter,” she said. “Coming back here was an adjustment.”
Brycki enjoyed the relaxing break at home, but is looking forward to another season.
“I like the excitement and buildup toward competition,” Brycki said.
Senior Ashlee Brown, also of Australia, passed her summer in her homeland, but not before playing in a South Carolina tournament.
Representing the Sun Devils in Europe was sophomore Hannah James, who hails from Great Britain and competed there while school was out.
James played in three professional tournaments as an amateur, one in Holland and two in England.
While some of the team worked on skills and growth, others worked to get back in playing form. Senior Micaela Hein, who was hampered by nagging elbow and foot injuries last season, used her time off to regain and maintain her health.
“My main goal after our season was to stay healthy, so I worked really hard to stay healthy,” Hein said.
Entering her final season at ASU, Hein hopes to be in top condition, especially after qualifying for the NCAA Singles Championship last year.
ASU lost significant leadership with the graduation of seniors Nadia Abdala and Amanda Martin, but with the loss comes new Sun Devil blood.
Freshman Jacqueline Cako joins the Sun Devils this year from Brier, Washington. Cako bounced around North America over the summer, competing in tournaments in the U.S. and Canada. She also earned a professional ranking of 374 from the Women’s Tennis Association, as of Aug. 23.
The Sun Devils will continue practicing and improving until their tournaments begin in late September.
Reach the reporter at nklauss@asu.edu
