The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1343401
MARCH/APRIL 2021 ■ 45 BY JUSTIN H. WILLIAMS C State women's tennis climbed as high as No. 3 in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Di- vision I rankings in 2019-20, the highest mark in program history. The Wolfpack was 18-3 — losing only to a trio of top-15 opponents — and had won eight of its last nine matches entering the thick of its conference schedule in March. Then Thursday, March 12 arrived, the unforgettable day in American history when the world of athletics made most of the country aware of the COVID-19 pandemic that was quickly spreading its way through the nation. Nearly every major sporting event in the country was promptly canceled or postponed to limit mass gatherings. Not long after, the NCAA canceled its winter championships and the remainder of its spring seasons. Fifth-year senior tennis player Anna Rogers remembers it like it was yesterday. "The athletic director [Boo Corrigan] came into our facility, we were all sitting on the benches, and he basically told us that our season was canceled," Rogers re- called. "Immediately, tears came after that. We were just really upset. "We were more upset than the others I think because it was our last go-round. The last thing we wanted was to finish like that." Rogers, then in her fourth and final year of collegiate eligibility, believed that her playing career at NC State had come to an abrupt end. Now it was time for her to enter the "real world," she thought. But then the petitions and public outcry started pouring in to grant the seniors in spring sports an additional year of eligibility to make up for the incomplete season. Many speculated whether such a feat was possible. Even Rogers had her doubts. Her coaches kept in touch while everyone went their separate ways in quarantine. The more information she received, the more she got her hopes up. Then, finally, a decision was made. The NCAA granted an additional year of eligibility to student-athletes of spring sports and later did the same for fall and winter athletics. For Rogers, the opportunity to come back for one more season and to finish on her terms was a no-brainer. "We would have done anything to be here for an extra year," Rogers said. "It was a dream come true. We are really blessed to have this." Fast-forward to 2021, and the Wolfpack picked up right where it left off last spring behind the leadership of its veteran star. Rogers, one of two seniors to return this season along with fellow fifth-year Adriana Reami, has excelled on the court with her renewed mentality that every match could be her last. The Stamford, Conn., native was ranked as the nation's No. 35 singles player and sported a 11-0 record as of Feb. 23. She was named the ACC Women's Tennis Player of the Week for the third time in her career after not dropping a set in back-to-back singles victories over Old Dominion's 40th- ranked Holly Hutchinson (6-1, 6-2) Feb. 12 and No. 21 Tennessee's Eleonora Molinaro (6-3, 6-3) the next day. In addition, Rogers and junior Alana Smith were the No. 2-ranked doubles tan- dem in the country. Rogers and Smith were 11-4 overall, including a 5-1 mark against nationally ranked competition, as of Feb. 23. The key to the duo's success? Aggression. "With a lot of women's doubles teams, it's more of just cross-court rallies and wait- ing for the other person to miss," Rogers explained. "With Alana, it's more aggres- sive. We're always looking to end the point fairly quickly. "Ironically, when the point goes on lon- ger, we usually lose it. She has a huge serve, and I consider myself pretty active at the net, so I think it's a really good combina- tion. We move off of each other, and we work really well together. "We're not huge hitters, but we place the ball where it needs to be placed. Our serves really keep us in some of the matches." Rogers is rewriting the record books at NC State and has a strong case to be con- sidered the most accomplished Wolfpack women's tennis player in school history. Entering the 2021 campaign, her 131 dou- bles victories were already the all-time pro- gram record — 49 more than anybody else at NC State. That margin is growing even wider this season (142 as of Feb. 23). This season, she also became the first player in program history to reach 100 wins in both singles and doubles. Only Reami, her fifth-year senior teammate, has claimed more all-time singles victories (115 to Rog- ers' 106 as of Feb. 23). "I'm just really fortunate and honored to have reached these milestones," Rogers said. "It's really exciting, and it makes me happy knowing that hard work pays off. "I'm a very competitive person, so it gives me confidence in a way that helps my tennis, because without it I don't know where I'd be. It's just nice to have certain things to back you up because then you can really believe in yourself." Not only has Rogers made her mark in NC State's record books, she's also played a prominent role in making the Wolfpack women's tennis team the nationally com- petitive program it is today. In 2015, head coach Simon Earnshaw's first season in Raleigh and two years prior to Rogers' arrival, the Pack finished just 1-13 against ACC competition. The Wolfpack was ranked among the top 35 nationally and earned a berth in the NCAA Championships in each of Rogers' first three seasons. NC State finished No. 5 in 2020 and would have appeared in its fifth straight NCAA Championships had the season not been shut down early due to the pandemic. Now there's just one accomplishment re- maining for Rogers this season before it's all said and done. "The main goal is to get to the national championship and win it," Rogers said. "We've never done that before, we've never gotten past the Sweet 16 before, but I really think by the end of the season this team could do big things if we keep working hard and control what we can control. "If we compete in every match and keep our heads on straight, I think big things are going to come." ■ LAST CHANCE Fifth-Year Senior Women's Tennis Player Anna Rogers Is Taking Advantage Of Her Extra Year Of Eligibility N