March 1st may have been just a normal day for the ITA rankings to be released, but for the Ohio State women’s team, it meant another step in the journey to becoming a powerhouse. The Buckeye ladies rose to No.1 in the country for the first time in program history, as well as having the No.1 singles player and No.4 doubles team in the country, also program-bests. I spoke with head coach Melissa Schaub, as well as current and former members of the Buckeye program, who before last season had never moved past No.17.
When you think of tennis at The Ohio State University, it’s pretty safe to say you think of the men’s program that have been a perennial powerhouse for the last decade. Schaub has quickly deterred that notion in her 3 years as head coach and notes the accomplishments this season are a result of hard work on the courts. “We put a lot of work in over the summer and through the fall. I think, through this, they are a more confident and determined team. They believe, in the big moments, that they are ready, said Schaub, a former All-American at Tennessee.
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| Top Left: RS Senior Niki Flower and Senior Grainne O’Neil, Top Right: Juniors Ferny Angeles Paz, Sandy Niehaus, Gaby De Santis and Miho Kowase, Bottom Left: Sophomores Olivia Sneed and Anna Sanford, Bottom Right: Freshmen Andrea Ballinger and Francesca Di Lorenzo |
Four members of OSU’s starting line were in Schaub’s first recruiting class in 2012. Gaby De Santis, Sandy Niehaus, Ferny Angeles Paz, and Miho Kowase hold a special place in Schaub’s heart and are the key to building the program to new heights. “That group means so much to me. They are obviously very good tennis players, but they are even better people and teammates. While the Buckeyes ended the 2013 season ranked No.73, De Santis said Schaub’s push to the incoming class having the opportunity to change the team’s trajectory brought her to Columbus. “I really liked the coaches and the team at the time. Also the motivation everyone had to change the program and make a powerhouse. I also loved the tradition here at Ohio State, the facilities and how big the campus is, the 2014 Big 10 Freshman of the Year said.
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| Miho Kowase and Anna Sanford (L) defeated Ferny Angeles Paz and Sandy Niehaus to win the ITA Midwest Regional doubles title |
Kowase and current seniors Niki Flower and Grainne O’Neill all single out a win over Top 30 Tennessee in 2014 as a turning point in the program. “It was a moment where I could feel a change, a change in confidence and how we believe in our abilities, said Flower, a redshirt senior whose father and sister played tennis at OSU. The Buckeyes eventually made the NCAA tournament after a 3-year hiatus, falling in a 4-3 heartbreaker to South Carolina. 2015 was a season of continued momentum for OSU, which included another NCAA appearance and the team’s 1st Big Ten championship appearance since 2004. The 2015 season also brought in local Anna Sanford, named to the All-Big 10 team last year and Olivia Sneed, who according to No.1 singles player Francesca Di Lorenzo, is someone who shouldn’t be taken lightly. “Olivia is the anchor on our team and she always puts us in a good position to win. People underestimate how important she is.
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| Olivia Sneed |
The previous two recruiting classes have brought a lot of success to OSU, but landing local recruit Di Lorenzo was the final piece of the puzzle. Di Lorenzo was the No. 1 recruit for the class of 2015 and reached the US Open junior semifinals. She then won the first national title in program history by capturing the ITA National Indoors and vaulting to No. 1 in the country, another program-first. Flower is quick to state that the intensity Di Lorenzo brings to the program has made her a leader on the court, regardless of her age. Fidan Manashirova ’13 remembers Di Lorenzo putting in grueling hours with the coaches as a junior. “She’s such a fighter, but she was always so gracious when she would play practice sets against us. I knew she was going to be an excellent college player and couldn’t be happier that she chose OSU. It’s clearly showing what kind of an impact a player like her can make on the team. O’Neill agrees and notes that she’s been impressed with the freshman from New Albany since her first day. “She has brought a new intensity to our team and has been a leader on the court. I have never seen a more hard-working individual and her results have been a testament to this. Kelsey Haviland ’12 admires while the freshman handles the pressure thrown at her beautifully, it’s hard to note one leader. “She is playing great. There are so many leaders on this team, it all comes down to everyone having the same goals and putting in the work.
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| Francesca Di Lorenzo |
When asked who shines off the court, everyone singled out O’Neill, who hails from Ireland. Flower was quick to point out how O’Neill has balanced the job as captain really well. “I think Grainne has done an amazing job at being captain this year. She does a great job at focusing when she needs to but also mixing in some needed fun with the girls. Manashirova acknowledged that she’s proud of the player that entered as the only foreigner, especially how she’s transitioned in her four years. “She has grown and matured into a leader, great player, and a wonderful friend. Schaub says the leadership Flower and O’Neill portray embodies the student-athletes she wants at Ohio State. “It’s not easy to be in their shoes but they give it everything they have every day. To have veterans that do that means so much for the younger girls. To me, these two have become what being a Buckeye and a student-athlete at Ohio State is all about. They are huge piece of the puzzle. ” O’Neill states that the biggest key to their success is that it’s a total team effort. “The great thing about this team is that every match, different players step up. We are there supporting each other till the very end and that is something very special, something not a lot of other teams can say.
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| Captain Grainne O’Neill |
Something that is stressed throughout the walls of the Varsity Tennis Center is the sisterhood of the Buckeye program. Cami Hubbs ’11 knew her impact at OSU would last more than the four years she spent in Columbus. “By [previous teams] setting and reaching high goals, it helps push the current team to do better. Hard work will propel you forward and we made sure to leave with a culture of excellence on and off the court.” Fellow 2011 graduate Paloma Escobedo noted that being a Buckeye is bigger than yourself on the court. “I once heard someone say, The name on your jersey is tied with the legacy you leave behind.’ Being a tennis player translates so much into the real world. The competitive nature, taking advantage of opportunities, recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, room for improvements and the passion all have an impact. It’s always good to remember that we are a representation of Buckeye tennis. Julie Blackmore ’09 knew that the near-upsets her teams and the ones after her would eventually turn into success. “We were always fighting to prove that our team could do what the team today is doing, and while that came with a lot almosts,’ we never let that discourage us from working towards that goal and working hard every day. The hard work we laid out is finally paying off.
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| Head Coach Melissa Schaub |
With the season about halfway through, the Buckeyes have put themselves as one of the frontrunners for a national title. Their debut appearance at the ITA National Team Indoors saw an upset over NCAA champions Vanderbilt before losing in a semifinal thriller to Cal. They earned their first win against Michigan since 2003 and have outscored their opponents 69-20 this season. While the accolades mean a lot to Schaub, she focuses more on her players’ character and their desire to leave it all on the court. “[When recruiting], we are just looking for players that are hungry and want to get better. At this level, you have to love the sport, and I think that is the key. We have a team that enjoys working hard and getting better. A team that lays it on the line, I think that’s where we have been successful. We are not afraid of the work that it takes to keep getting better. Di Lorenzo, who has made no decision about pursuing a professional career after her record-breaking year, says the Buckeyes’ dedication to utilizing every second in practice shows in the results. “The coaches are very intense in practice and matches. Every drill, every point and every match we play has a purpose and matters. I think we work really hard in practice and are very focused on the goals we want to achieve. The work we put in is translated in the matches.
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| The team embracing Miho Kowase after she clinched the ITA Indoor upset over Vanderbilt |
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