Despite windy conditions, the St. Thomas women’s tennis team was able to easily defeat Hamline University 9-0 on Sunday at Holt courts to put the unbeaten Tommies at a 14-0 record.
“I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve done it for so long, but we’re actually used to winning and putting streaks together,” head coach Terry Peck said. “We know that it’s important to finish well. In my mind we’re only as good as our next match.”
Twins and first-year students Paige and Taylor McLeod played one doubles together, winning 8-4. Both McLeod sisters also played and won singles matches.
“Any coach in the midwest would love to have those two on their team,” Peck said. “They’re quite accomplished doubles players, and they’re good singles players. I think in the future they’re going to be great singles players.”
The McLeods have been playing doubles together since they started tennis at age five.
“It just always worked well,” Paige said. “We always know where each other is on the court. We know what each other’s going to do.”
Playing at the top of the lineup can be a lot of pressure for first-year students.
Everyone on the team is so good, it doesn’t even matter where anyone plays,” Taylor said. “We all support each other. The lineup changes a lot, which is good because you’ve always got to be ready for whatever match you’re scheduled for.”
Having a well-rounded team gives Peck room to play with the lineup.
“We have a deep, strong team,” Peck said. “When we played Concordia I went with a complete underclassmen team and left all the seniors home, or I could put four seniors in the lineup. That’s a nice problem for a coach to have.”
Solveig Rennan can be reached at renn6664@stthomas.edu.
Way to go Tommie Tennis. It’s so good to see Coach Peck in action. He’s an inspiration to all Tommies.