Meet the Orangewomen: Alexa Konstand
2/11/2003 10:59:24 AM | Tennis
<br>by Jess Fisher<br>
"All I do is watch sports," Konstand said. "For a girl to be able to sit and watch football game after football game and be totally interested in it blows people away sometimes. That's something about me that's very interesting for a girl, and that's why I'm in broadcast journalism."
Konstand is hoping to break into the singles lineup this spring for the Orangewomen. She has been working very hard on improving her singles game.
"I've been a doubles player for the past two years," she said. "But I have been working very hard and hopefully I can break in at No. 6. I've been working a ton on my ground strokes. I changed my forehand, and I've also been working on my serve a lot."
Konstand talked a lot about the camaraderie on the team.
"We really are one big family. Everywhere we go, we're all together. It's almost like, 'here comes the tennis team.' They're amazing to me," Konstand said.
As a sophomore, Konstand considered quitting the team. She says it was hard being a walk-on and not playing as much as she would like to. However, she began playing more during the spring season, and the team made her want to stay as well.
"I needed to know that there was a reason I was there and not just to be the team cheerleader," Konstand said. "I think my game's gotten a lot better. And the bottom line is the girls are amazing."
After battling mononucleosis last year, Konstand worked very hard over the summer to improve her game and get back into shape. She interned with IMG, the International Management Group, and worked in Boca Raton, Fla., at Chris Evert's Tennis Academy. She says it was a great experience to work there because she got to play tennis all the time.
"I got world class coaching. I got to work out all the time, and that was a big part of getting back after the mono," Konstand said.
Konstand says that one of the hardest parts of being a walk-on is just getting over the awe of being on the tennis team at a big-time school.
"At first I was content just being here. Once I finally got adjusted to the fact that I was going to be in for the long haul, I had a new mindset and it was that I have to work harder to get to the level of these girls."
The Orangewomen have high expectations for themselves this season, and Konstand says she hopes the team can break into the top three in the BIG EAST.
"We finished fifth the last two years, which out of fourteen teams isn't bad," Konstand said. "But I think we can really break in and play with teams like Boston College and Virginia Tech, two teams we haven't been able to beat the past few years."
Optimism seems to be the theme this spring, and Konstand feels confident both in herself and when she talks about the team.
"This year it's going to be tough because a lot of the teams have gotten better, but I think we've gotten better too," Konstand said.
