PortageLife.com captured photos of all of the members of the 2013 Portage Indians girls tennis team and asked what they most enjoy about playing tennis!
Mandy Haupt
Grade: Junior
Position: No. 1 Singles
“I just feel like we’ve all gotten really close over the years. We’re like family. I can come to them on and off the court. We’re just really close. We all support each other. Even the JV girls support us and I just think we all have a good connection this year. Last year, it wasn’t as close because it was such a big team, but now that it’s kind of compacted and it’s not as many girls, I think we’ve gotten to know a lot of the JV and freshmen girls and it’s been a lot better.”
Kaley Liang
Grade: Senior
Position: No. 2 Singles
“Playing singles, you can only depend on yourself. I like the pressure that it puts on me to have to go up to the challenge.”
Emily Sajda
Grade: Freshman
Position: No. 3 Singles
“My dad used to play tennis when he was in high school and he wanted to get me started in it. About a year ago, I started playing tennis because he signed me up for a class.”
Bailey Lauritzen
Grade: Senior
Position: No. 1 Doubles
“I love the team; I love the girls. We always have fun and we just all get along really well. It’s really fun to play and I just love it.”
Lauren Zack
Grade: Senior
Position: No. 1 Doubles
“We try to focus on being one unit. We try to be together on the things we do. We do food after the matches and that’s a lot of fun. I really enjoy tennis because when you play singles, it’s just you. In doubles, it’s a lot of fun because you have to rely on each other. It takes a lot of teamwork.”
Gabby Ziulkowski
Grade: Junior
Position: No. 2 Doubles
“Honestly, I think it’s our team. We have a really strong team, we’re all really close and I think that sets us apart.”
Lauren Wilk
Grade: Junior
Position: No. 2 Doubles
“I like tennis because it’s competitive. You can either play as a singles player, or with a partner, so it’s fun. Doubles definitely is faster paced and, I would say, more fun because you’re with a friend.”
Patty Mota
Grade: Junior
Position: No. 2 Doubles
“We’re a pretty close-knit family. Everyone’s really nice. I just enjoy the sport. It’s one of the more relaxing sports; it’s not that intense.”
For a full photo gallery of the Portage girls tennis team, follow this link!
For more on Portage girls tennis, read PortageLife's girls tennis notebook!