Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/114138
cavaliersports five questions one another, singles and doubles, a lot of drilling both live balls and feeds. "There is no substitute for when you play against each other, push each other and compete hard against each other so when you play matches against other schools you are used to being pushed at a high level." Cavalier Corner: What does former player Emily Fraser Cavalier Corner: What brought you and head coach bring to the program as a volunteer coach? Mark Guilbeau to Virginia together, leaving head coachPorco: "She brings a lot of ing positions in the SEC? credibility to the team, in that Porco: "It was just a great opthey know how hard of a worker portunity, number one. Mark she was, how great of a leader and I have known each other for she was. She brings automatic a number of years from having respect within our team, both competed against each other in from our players who were the SEC. … When the opportuher teammates last year and nity at Virginia came available, from our first-years, who have we both felt like it was a job that a coach that has been through we really could do some great what they are going through. things at the national level." "Emily has been fantastic, and Cavalier Corner: The team we are really fortunate to have had a number of tough, but her helping us out." close, losses early. How do you Cavalier Corner: Recalling keep the team focused on the big picture? Porco, who is in his eighth season at your collegiate playing style, Porco: "You just want to reas- Virginia, has twice been named ITA Re- how does that assist you in coaching women's tennis tosure them that we have played gional Assistant Coach of the Year. Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVa day? well. We have played very, very Porco: "Back when I played, and I finished playing in top programs in our losses and have been very close 1990, Mark was similar, our game were built more around to actually winning a couple of those matches, literally making a lot of movement [with the ball] and constructwithin a couple of points in a few of those matches. "You have to realize that you are close, but get a little bit ing points. "You see that generally speaking more so on the wombetter in some instances." Cavalier Corner: How do you best harness competition en's side than you do on the men's. … Even though they hit the ball real hard nowadays, too, on the women's side, within practice? it is generally about constructing points and figuring out Porco: "You always come with a plan to practice every when to exploit weaknesses on your opponent while using day, but you have to come out as a team and challenge your own strengths." each other to get better. … It is difficult to simulate an — Sean Corso exact match pressure, but we do play a lot of sets against Women's Tennis Associate Head Coach Troy Porco