Molly Welsh watches on as teammate Nikol Williams takes a swing in doubles match play. | Abby Sanford/The Minaret
These days the University of Tampa tennis team is struggling to improve its record. But there is a member of the team who is used to winning and is doing everything in her power to help the squad reverse the way the season is going.
Molly Welsh, a former high school state champion out of Peaster, Texas, is sure she made the right decision coming to UT.
“I thought I always wanted to come to a school in Florida because the weather is nice here.
“I thought I had my heart set out on Florida State University but I went and visited it and I hated it.” Welsh said.
After that, she flew into Tampa and realized this was the perfect place for her.
“I decided to visit this school and I loved the campus, it was gorgeous,” Welsh said. “I talked to the Tennis coach, tried out for the team and ended up making it.”.
Although the tennis team’s record does not impress and Welsh is a first year Spartan, she does not hesitate in pointing out the differences between junior tennis and the college level.
A level that in her own words is much faster and more demanding.
“I’ve learned through my college matches that the style of play is a lot different. In college [it] is more about being consistent and also it’s more fun playing as a team. In junior it was all about yourself and in college you want to win as a team.” Welsh said.
As a double major (International Business/Spanish), Welsh feels she has grown a lot since joining the Spartans especially as a player.
She says she has learned a lot about playing as a team.
But thinking about the games left in this season and the seasons to come, Welsh believes that there are things that need to be done in order to get better.
“I think we need to go out there with a more positive attitude and being a little bit more confident with the way we play, because we do have a very tough conference and it will take a lot of positive attitude to get through these matches.” Welsh said.
And a positive attitude is what she showed on her first collegiate win against Gina Schiafano from Saint Leo on Feb. 16, a match that she will remember for the rest of her collegiate career, at least, for the intensity of it.
“That is definitely a match that I remember. It was a very physically demanding match, it took three hours and it was only two sets but it was definitely an accomplishment and something I will remember because it was my first collegiate win and I was glad I could contribute to the team.” Welsh said.
Welsh also commented that she is a bit superstitious.
She hates playing with the number four ball on a match and that before serving she always bounces the ball three times.
Whichever ball Welsh is dealt she will bring her ‘A’ game versus St. Petersburg College, in order for her to get the victory and keep enriching her career as a part of the UT tennis team
Arturo Uzcategui can be reached at juzcategui.gomez@ut.edu.
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