If the Ball State University women's tennis team plans on having any success on the court this season, Haly Calderwood will play an instrumental role.
After playing No. 3 and No. 4 singles+â-Ñ most of last season, the junior moves into the No. 1 singles spot when the Cardinals open their season Wednesday against Wright State University.
Calderwood played most of the season at No. 4 singles behind Jessica Thompson, Stephanie Farrar and Jennifer Pollack. With Thompson not returning and Farrar battling a back injury, Calderwood and Pollack (No. 2 singles) will be expected to lead the Cardinals.
Coach Kathy Bull said Calderwood earned the No. 1 spot because her mental game finally caught up to her skills.
"Her attitude has changed," Bull said. "It's not as casual for her. She comes across as a really easygoing person but can focus, get serious and really get after some things."
Bull said the light bulb finally clicked for Calderwood late last spring in a match against the University at Buffalo's Natalie Dean. After winning the first set 6-3 and dropping the second one 3-6, Calderwood battled her way to a 6-4 victory.
"She got a little bit tough and she got kind of tired of being pushed around," Bull said. "She started to do the pushing, just taking charge of her own destiny."
Calderwood said she's more excited than nervous about the move up.
"I like to be number one in the lineup," Calderwood said. "I feel pretty strong and confident. I'm more up to the challenge than anything else."
Calderwood will share tri-captain duties along with juniors Pollack and Farrar. There are no seniors on this year's squad.
Farrar will not play singles this year for Ball State because of her back injury. She will, however, attempt doubles play. Bull said there's a 75 percent chance Farrar, slated to play at No. 3 doubles with sophomore Emma Retter, will play Wednesday.
Lining up at No. 3 singles is freshman Sophia Quist. The Australian, who enrolled at Ball State in January, came to Muncie after spending the past year training in Spain. Bull said Quist has a great backcourt game, hits long balls nicely and has a soft touch around the net.
"Very soon she could be challenging Haly," Bull said. "She and Pollack are already pretty even. I think it's fairly obvious they're our three top players."
Retter will play at No. 4 and freshmen Polina Askerko and Christine Stromberg will line up in the 5 and 6 spots. Stromberg will also team up with Pollack at No. 2 doubles.
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