Women’s Tennis Starts Season With Top 20 Ranking
The Lady Choctaws are set to make another deep run in the GSC after last year’s championship loss.
The Lady Choctaws will enter the 2025 season this week ranked #19 in the nation following their strong performance last year, which saw them reach the GSC Championship. Despite losing the championship match 4-3 against a strong Auburn Montgomery team, the Choctaws will enter this season with the momentum of last year's result.
The team enters this year with several new faces in the lineup. With four graduating seniors, third year head coach Michael Ward has brought in five new players to the roster, including two freshmen and three transfers.
Senior captain, Emma Roberts, believes that, despite the squad being much different from last year, the new players have done an excellent job fitting in with the team.
“I knew that five new girls would be an adjustment, but our coach did a very nice job recruiting both good tennis players and solid teammates,” Roberts said. “I am beyond excited to come together even more as a team this season. We have different people and different personalities, but I am super excited to see how this team grows and just as excited that we have the support of our old teammates behind us.”
Coming off a season as impressive as last year's, the team has ambitious goals. Senior from Madison, Mississippi, Ann Cabot Stockett, has high hopes for the Choctaws this season. “My goals for this team are to win the conference tournament, and additionally to be in the top 10 Division II teams nationally,” Stockett said.
“Individually, I’m striving to be a supportive and dedicated teammate,” Stockett said. “My next goal is to give my all in every match, and find a way to win each match, no matter the challenges.”
Achieving these goals requires putting in the work during the off-season. “We have been preparing through intensive workouts and on-court sessions,” Roberts said. “Our coach is a big proponent of fitness, so we’ve been attempting to get into peak shape going into the season.”
At the start of each season, motivation comes easily, but as the season goes on and the early mornings and late nights start to take a toll, it’s common for that motivation to fade. Stockett believes her goals keep her motivation focused. “When I have specific goals to achieve, staying focused on what I want to accomplish keeps me motivated,” Stockett said. “Additionally, the support and encouragement from my family, amazing teammates, and coach inspire me to keep pushing forward.”
When the schedule comes out at the beginning of the season, certain players will circle matches on the calendar that they specifically look forward to. For Roberts, each match holds the same weight. “For me, I am excited for all of the matches; getting to play these matches is a privilege,” Roberts said. “College tennis combines my love of tennis with the joy of being a member of a team. I get to play for my teammates because every point affects them too, and every match I want to show them that they can trust me to fight and that I care about them.”
A tennis season runs from early February until late April, with a lot of competition and travel. Balancing academics with a season like this is a tall task for any athlete. Stockett believes there’s a combination of things needed to be successful in this area. “It’s a combination of discipline, organization, and knowing what to prioritize at the moment,” Stockett said. “I also get tutoring if needed, and let my professors know about my athletic commitments.”
As a team, organizing time to spend together off the court is just as important as working together on the court. “The girls and I always find ways to spend time together – whether that’s watching movies, playing board games, or enjoying homemade cookies from Emma and Elena [Roberts],” Stockett said.
The Choctaws begin match play in usual fashion, as they head to Jackson State on February 7. This begins a series of out-of-conference play until a home matchup against Montevallo on March 4 starts GSC play.