Senior Hannah James rips a shot over the net against UCLA on April 6. James was one of the ASU tennis players that had to adjust to a new role after the team was hit with injuries. (Photo by Murphy Bannerman)ASU women’s tennis head coach Sheila McInerney has been down this road before.
Her team has played top-10 teams like No. 5 USC and No. 9 UCLA while being shorthanded. First, freshman Stephanie Vlad went down with an injured right knee. Then, an injured right foot sidelined fellow freshman Desirae Krawczyk. The injuries brought an eerily similar feel to what happened against the two schools last season. A year earlier, senior Sianna Simmons and sophomore Jacqueline Cako both went down within a day of each other. McInerney remembers how the injuries were a blow to the team’s morale.
“That’s who Sianna actually tore her ACL against last year was UCLA,” McInerney said before playing USC and UCLA last weekend. “That was just a rough day to have, to have something like that in the middle of the match and have to default.”
Without the depth on the roster to cover so many injuries last year, the Sun Devils were forced to give up free points, one point to UCLA and two points to USC.
However, this year, when the injuries began to pile up, McInerney had enough depth to cover more of the lineup than the year before.
When Vlad injured her knee before playing Washington and was unable to play against USC and UCLA, senior Hannah James was able to step up from her usual No. 5 spot to No. 4.
It wasn't a problem, as moving up brings out the best in James.
“I think that I play better anyway when I’m put under pressure or playing against a better player,” James said. “Matches are going to be tougher the more you move up the lineup and I want to be faced with that challenge of taking on a girl that’s better than me or at the same level as me.”
After James moved up to No. 4, freshman Ebony Panoho, who has won five of her last seven singles matches, took James’ place at No 5.
The lineup was full again.
When Krawczyk got hurt, the Sun Devils were forced to make adjustments yet again.
This time, sophomore Leighann Sahagun moved up to No. 2 for the second time this season to step in for the injured Krawczyk.
Sahagun started her season on a tear, going 8-2 through her first 10 matches and going 2-2 at the No. 2 spot.
Lately, things haven’t gone as smoothly. Sahagun has struggled, winning only one of her last three matches.
Sahagun admitted some of the rough stretch was due to the increased talent in the Pac-12. When asked if she’s close to returning to her early-season form, Sahagun responded, “I definitely think so."
“I’ve been practicing pretty well lately," Sahagun said. "I’ve been hearing a lot more positive things I’m doing right than wrong in practice.”
Despite the added depth, the results against USC and UCLA were the same as last year. ASU was shut out by No. 5 USC and lost a 5-2 decision to No. 9 UCLA.
This year, the team's depth helped the team a considerable amount compared to last season. It only forfeited one point to UCLA as opposed to three last season.
James, Panoho and Sahagun lost their matches against the Trojans and Bruins, but their value can’t be understated.
Winning, already difficult enough with a fully healthy lineup, would have been all but impossible without them.
Reach the reporter at ejsmith7@asu.edu
