By Shiri Marwaha — Reporter
San Jose State University women’s tennis came back after 349 days to take the world of college tennis by storm and clinch the Mountain West Championship.
Knocking down one competitor at a time, they proceeded like the Titans winning all but one match this season 15-1.
The 2021 season under the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike any other with social distancing and mask mandates.
The eight-player women’s team includes five returning players and three freshmen.
“When we met this session for the first time everyone clicked and we were ready to just jump right in,” senior Savannah Sendar said.
This is a unique group of athletes who function as a unit rather than individuals and back one another’s game during challenging matches.
Irena Muradyan has won all of her singles encounters with one unfinished 13-1 which is a great start for a freshman. The 5-foot-6 Armenian native says she draws strength from the support of her teammates.
Muradyan already has 10 years of experience and has won many tournaments however, she says none match the 2021 season.
“I had a lot of ups and downs during my career but coming here, I have a lot of ups right now,” Muradyan said.
Sendar says the team is inwardly adept to face tough competitors.
“I think our team right now is mentally very strong, very tough,” Sendar said.
The strategy in each of their matches is not set in stone but the team is fluid and adjusts accordingly.
Sendar said the players have a way of stepping up to cover one another’s back when needed.
“We were just able to compete very well every match, even if things aren’t going our way necessarily we’re still able to turn it around,” Sendar said.
During the Spartans’ 4-3 win against Utah on April 11, Sendar was the last hope and her teammates were looking up to the senior player to defend their undefeated status.
“Seeing all my teammates [supporting] there, just made me want to win even more,” said Sendar. “You know you’re not only doing it for yourself but you’re also doing it for your teammates who work equally as hard as you.”
SJSU women’s tennis hasn’t had such a winning streak before.
Head coach Chad Skorupka who has been with women’s tennis since 2015 said this is one of the best seasons yet.
But the Spartans didn’t dwell on the record rather focused on the match at hand.
Coach Skorupka helps keep them grounded.
“Keep them on a straight line, straight path and not to think so forward out, not to think so much into the future,” Skorupka said. “When we’re at practice we’re always talking about just the next match.”
This 2021 team is doing exceptionally well and won all but one match to regiter a 15-1 record this season.
Skorupka said his job as a coach is to make sure the players are fit, focused and rested before each match.
“Just trying to break it down one one practice at a time, one match at a time, and you know and then it’s just one of those seasons going our way,” Skorupka said.
Eight of the 15 matches played this season were close 4-3 wins and such matches get intense especially during the singles at the end.
Muradyan says watching her teammates battle the decisive matches is nerve wracking.
“I think it’s harder than playing,” Muradyan said. “When Savannah was playing her third set, I was praying that she would figure it out.”
Sendar did figure it out and defeated her opponent to clinch a victory for the team.
Coach Skorupka says the team works well together and has high hopes for this group of players.
The eight player team trains, lives, bonds and enjoys spending time together. When they are not on the court they can be seen on walks or watching movies. They enjoy binge watching shows together.
The team that spends quality time together also plays quality tennis together.
Determination and hardwork is the secret to their success- the team who clinched the Mountain West Championship and a 15-1 record.
Follow Shiri on Twitter @Marwaha5Shiri