In what has been one of the toughest seasons for any team at AU, the Women's Tennis team lost again Tuesday to Howard, 5-2. Yet considering the state of the AU tennis program and the team's 17-match losing streak, the effort alone is enough to draw praise from its followers.
This year, the team has lost players in the middle of the season and discovered that its program has been cut, leaving the team with few reasons to get motivated for matches and fewer weapons to use to win them. But AU's fighting spirit has not subsided.
"We are very proud of each other for continuing to work hard and to fight," sophomore Julia Colarusso said. "We are sticking together because we are a family."
That bond was obvious Tuesday.
When their own matches are over, players on the Eagles cheer their teammates endlessly. When a ball goes just over the line, they shout "almost, almost!" Tuesday's match was nothing but almosts, full of shots that missed inches wide of the line or inches low of the net. Meanwhile, Howard made the most of its shots, sweeping the doubles portion of the match.
In singles, AU was relentless, reaching for any win possible. Sophomore Tessa Hollyn-Taub came through, winning her second straight match in the No. 2 spot, 6-2, 6-3. Also coming up big for the Eagles was sophomore Merrisa Hollinger, who won her match at the No. 5 spot, 7-5, 6-3.
"Two girls on the team played really great matches today and won," Colarusso said.
Hollinger's win came too late to help the Eagles, as junior Brandi Kligman and sophomores Colarusso, Rachael Honig and Brynne Ward had already lost, putting the match out of reach.
Despite yet another disappointment, it was clear that in this trying season, the Eagles have formed a unique bond.
"As a team we are stronger, and we definitely have better friendships," Honig said.
Colarusso felt the same way, she said. "This season has tested us in so many ways, but we try to focus on the fact that no matter if we win or lose, we represent ourselves and each other very well. We have definitely had very difficult moments together on the team, but we depend on each other to see the season through."
Coach Carol Daniels said she also holds a special place in her heart for this year's team.
"I've never seen a team that has played with so much heart and through all this adversity," she said.
Despite its record, everyone on the team said they feel it has improved as the season has passed, even if the results don't show that. When asked if there were any bright spots this year, Daniels replied that they could be found in all six of the team's starters.
For AU, its final record will only show wins and losses. But the team hopes that its efforts, in wins and more often in losses, mean something more.
