By Ryan Vermont
Those who believe tennis isn’t a team sport are wrong.
On March 31, Marie Klocker earned her place in San Jose State lore passing Sabastiani Leon Chao for most wins in program history, however the record was not her primary concern.
“I had so many opportunities so I knew I was going to make it at some point, but what’s funny is that Gaelle Rey is two wins behind,” Klocker said.
Klocker mentioned that she and Rey began their SJSU careers at the same time, and she would love to finish their careers ranked first and second in wins.
Another member of the program that joined in 2013 (as a volunteer assistant) is now in his first season as head coach. Chad Skorupka has built a strong relationship with the all-conference athlete Klocker.
“I think we’ve had a tight bond on the court and it’s hard to imagine it’s been four years,” Skorupka said. “I’m still telling her the same thing that I told her when I was an assistant.”
Skorupka explained that the energy Klocker plays with is almost always a benefit to herself and the team.
“I like that she does play with a lot of emotion,” Skorupka said. “I have a good idea or good feeling when I think she’s getting off track and we need to bring her down to recognize it quicker and earlier.”
The senior from Mulhouse, France made an immediate impact as soon as she arrived on campus and this win was more of a long time coming.
In her inaugural collegiate season, she went a combined 28-28 and was named an All-Mountain West selection.
Her sophomore year, the 2014-15 campaign, Klocker established herself as the No. 1 of the present and future of the program.
She played in 74 total matches, finishing the year 36-38 and again finishing all-conference in both singles and doubles.
Her junior year was particularly special as she breached the top-100 nationally in singles for the first time. She amassed a 46-22 overall record including a 26-8 mark in singles. For the third consecutive year, she was named an All-MW honoree in both singles and doubles.
The Spartans’ No. 1 option is now in the midst of a strong senior season.
Through 12 matches in the 2017 season, Klocker is 6-5 (3 unfinished) in singles and 7-2 (5 unfinished) in doubles.
Klocker’s record-setting win came during a 5-game win streak for a team in the midst of a tight conference battle.
“Honestly, for me, it’s just one more win for the team,” Klocker said. “I would feel happier of winning the conference than breaking a record.”
She even went as far as saying she would cry if SJSU won Mountain West, but with less than two weeks left in the season, the team has some work to do.
The Spartans are in 7th in the conference following a victory against UNLV to start Mountain West play, a postponed match against Nevada and a down-to-the-wire loss to Fresno State.
Marie Klocker has unquestionably established herself as a one of the greats in San Jose State tennis history. If she can lead her team to a conference title, there would be very few arguments against her.
