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YSU women’s tennis team has right attitude
YOUNGSTOWN
Embracing the laid-back attitude that’s required in Southern California won’t be a challenge for the Youngstown State women’s tennis team.
Remembering to flip the switch when they step on the courts for their NCAA regional match with the top-overall seed USC Trojans will be another question.
The Penguins (17-8) earned their second straight NCAA tournament berth by finishing unbeaten in Horizon League play and winning the conference tournament. The Trojans (21-2) finished their second undefeated Pac-12 season in the past three years and their first No. 1 overall seed since 1985.
Aside from that, Penguins coach Mickael Sopel doesn’t know much about their first-round opponent.
“Any team in the top 10 is going to be challenging,” Sopel said. “It’s going to be a really good team. Those are all teams who can contend for a national championship. That’s why they’re there.
“The challenge for us is intensity.”
The team takes after its top player — conference player of the year Marta Burak. Her coach refers to her as “the superstar,” although the way she interacts with her teammates says otherwise.
“She’s really cool,” Dominika Lackova said of her doubles partner, Burak. “I’ve never seen her upset or get angry. Whenever I look at her during the match see’s smiling and laughing. It’s great.
“It makes me laugh, so then I don’t feel so much pressure. If our No. 1 is really chill, then why should I be stressed?”
That’s essentially the attitude the entire Penguins have taken on this season. Burak is the lone senior and has enjoyed leading the way for a young team.
“I think the most important role I can play is cheering for them,” Burak said. “Sometimes I have to start the cheering and keep it going to get the girls into it.”
That’s the sort of intensity Sopel wants to see on Saturday. The Trojans are unbeaten at home this season.
“We’re going to have to be able to match their intensity right off the bat if we want to be able to compete, I think,” Sopel said.
Lackova leads the team in singles wins with a 25-11 record. Burak is right behind her at 21-10. Both players were 8-0 in league play.
The two didn’t team up for a doubles match in the regular season, but there’s a chance they could this weekend. They were 9-9 overall together in non-conference play. Lackova, a sophomore, needed time to feel comfortable playing with Burak.
“I was a quiet person,” Lackova said. “Then, when I started playing with her, I was just a little scared and intimidated. She was a really good player.
“Now I feel like I can do whatever. If I make a stupid mistake she helps pick me up.”
The Penguins are on an 11-game win streak and haven’t lost since returning from their mid-season trip to California in March. They hope their good play makes the 3,000-plus mile trip cross-country, too.
“Confidence is everything in every sport,” Sopel said. “Confidence is a big part of performance. In the end, if you’re able to be playing really well the last few matches and the conference tournaments, and be on a winning streak and have that belief that we can do it, that’s big.”