The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/112604
High Hopes The Wolfpack Has Started 6-0 And Has Lofty Goals For The Rest Of The Season A By Ryan Tice fter the women���s tennis team assembled on campus this fall and heard a talk from former NC��State basketball star Thurl Bailey, who led the Wolfpack in scoring and rebounding during the national championship run in 1983, they were inspired to set high goals for the 2013 campaign. ���He spoke at the beginning of the year banquet for all of the athletes and told some ���PREVIEW woMen���s Tennis stories about the way they did things in the years that they were so successful under Jim Valvano,��� head coach Hans Olsen said. ���The players were really moved by what they heard. They really liked the ideas of the way that team progressed through their season. We talked over several conversations about it, and the players really set lofty goals. ���In our conference, winning the conference championship is really a lofty goal because we have so many teams that are ranked among the best in the country, but they decided that was what they wanted to do. They want to have that as their goal this year ��� to win an ACC championship ��� and that���s what we���re working towards.��� The Pack has opened the season 6-0, and although the daunting conference slate awaits, the players are confident that they can keep the momentum rolling. ���I think that they���re moving in that direction,��� the coach said. ���I think that if we were a team where everybody stayed the same as they were the first week of their freshman year, this team wouldn���t be able to achieve that kind of goal. Because of the developmental attitude that we have and the attitude of the players ��� they���re putting the work in ��� we���re going to have to challenge them more and more as we go. ���It may not be a perfect year, but if we learn from the things that go well and the things that don���t go well, when it comes time for that tournament in April, I think we are all going to believe that we can get it done.��� Just like Bailey was the star for State in 1983, the Pack has a proven leader at No.��1 singles and doubles in junior Joelle Kissell. After playing No. 4 singles as a freshman, Sophomore Elisha Hande, a native of England, was 5-1 at No. 5 singles and 4-0 at No. 2 doubles during NC State���s hot start. photo by larry blankenship March 2013��� ������ 71 70-73.Women���s Tennis Preview.indd 71 2/26/13 1:07 PM