Many tennis teams have the ability to dominate on the court. The hard part comes after the game, when the rackets are packed up and individual players lose the concept of team present during game time.

This missing link can destroy a team and leave hope for a successful postseason far from reach. For the women’s tennis team, however, a sense of unity on and off the court has transformed the game into a powerful team concept.

“Tennis is such an individual sport, but everybody is important,” Head Coach Bill Austin said. “We are very cohesive. We work together, we push together and we act together.”

The team’s unity keeps the Bombers focused on the big picture. They make sure everyone keeps up and helps one another, instead of letting teammates get dragged behind.

“We’re a very cohesive team, and we like to have fun constantly whether it be on or off the court,” senior Alyssa Jaffe said. “I look at the team as a family.”

Senior Natalie Jenereski said by sticking together and challenging each other the team prevails.

“We all have things in common, and we all have our differences,” Jenereski said. “It really brings us together. We mesh so well.”

Jenereski said players can take advantage of their 17-player team being smaller than the competition’s because every team member gets to know each other better.

Because the team has such strong individual players, it can switch up doubles partners, which allows it to create tighter bonds. Most teams stick to two players playing doubles together for the entire season, but the South Hill squad’s partner shuffling forces every team member to work together. A 5–0 start and a 23-game conference win streak proves this tactic is effective.

The best display of their true team bond shone through during the match against rival SUNY-Cortland Sept. 19.

“Cortland, of course, is always a big deal since they’re our rivals,” said Jenereski. “We were really scared. We knew the only way to come out on top was through a big team win.”

With the idea of the individual traded in for team focus, the Bombers came out aggressive, taking five singles matches and two doubles matches.

Though the match was a 7–2 win, Jenereski and Austin both said the score did not reflect how much effort went into the victory. The only way the Blue and Gold could pull off such a win and shake out the nervousness was to work and act as one.

Sophomore Agata Kubik said so far the team has been able to have a successful season not just because of powerful play, but by the way the team has connected off the court.

“We’re all really good friends, especially during the season because we’re always together,” Kubik said. “Most of us will probably hang out this weekend since we don’t have a match.”

The South Hill squad has been able to stand strong not only through dominating play, but by the trust and friendship in which teammates are connected.

“We just need to go out and do what we know how to do,” Jenereski said. “But most importantly, we have to do it together.”