London, ON - Having won three out of the last four OUA Championships, the Western Women's Tennis team will look to reclaim the title this Saturday as they take on the Varsity Blues.
Western topped their regional qualifier earlier this month, securing their place in the Championship along with home court advantage. Veteran team member Angela Chen led the way, earning her a spot as Mustangs Athlete of the Week.
"It is such an honour," said Chen. "I guess it can also be a lot of pressure to perform, but I think being recognized also gives me confidence in what I am doing and motivates me to keep up the good work."
The Varsity Blues are a familiar opponent to Western, as the purple and white lost to them in the Championship two years ago. Only a few members of the current roster were a part of the 2019 team, so that result holds little grip over those competing this weekend.
"So much has happened since then," said Chen. "Most of our team this year has never played OUA's, so I think the aim here is to just perform like I know we are capable of and to play some great tennis."
The Mustangs came out victorious against Toronto three weeks ago as they played the makeup for the 2019-20 Nationals, taking home the bronze medal with a 4-3 win. This result has only added to the team's confidence that they can achieve the same outcome this weekend.
"We know that we have the ability to come out on top this weekend, but it's important to stay focused and come out ready for some high-quality matches," said head coaches Chantal Forristal and Maciek Gebczynski.
The team has placed a large focus on physical preparedness this season, with the players completing extra workouts on their own time and participating in team fitness sessions. During practices, the team has emphasized regaining rhythm and consistency in their shots. But in sports, the mental side of things plays just as big a role. Having been crowned a champion with the team back in 2018, Chen knows what it takes to win and uses her experience to not only prepare herself, but also her teammates.
"[Preparation] usually involves checking in with my body to make sure I'm taking care of myself and knowing what I need for support on Saturday," said Chen. "It also means checking in with my teammates as a senior on this team and supporting them as we all may feel a bit nervous."
"We've also had some conversations about mental toughness and resiliency and to encourage them to apply these tools during games," added Forristal and Gebczynski. "When matches get tight, a players mindset can sometimes make the difference between a win and a loss."
With graduation looming overhead, Chen also recognizes the importance of soaking in the experience.
"I honestly didn't realize how much fun I was missing until we started up again," said Chen. "Just getting to practice and compete is something I'm very thankful for every day."
Naturally, the season hasn't been without challenges. While the game of tennis itself abides by COVID regulations therefore allowing for normal practice drills to resume, the inability to book time at indoor facilities has meant that the team has been using the rugby fields to complete their dry-land training.
The team has also been playing with heavy hearts this season, after losing long-time coach Mike Richards this past summer. Richards' legacy and love for the sport remains present in the community, and he will be on the minds of the players as they look to bring home another banner.
"This is for Mike," said Chen.
The team will begin their hunt for the Championship early Saturday morning at the Western Tennis Centre and will be ready to leave it all on the court with the Western community cheering them on from home.
