Junior strives to set record in road match at Gainesville
The associate head coach of the Carolina women’s tennis team, Katarina Petrovic, played tennis for the Gamecocks between 1998 and 2002. As a sophomore, she set a school record when she reached a ranking of No. 13 in singles. Petrovic ended the 2000 season ranked No. 29, making her the last player in USC history to finish in the top 30.
Now, as the team prepares to play Florida in its final match of the regular season, junior Anya Morgina seeks to beat her coach’s record. Her lofty ambition is no surprise to her coach.
“[Petrovic] was actually encouraging me,” Morgina said. “She was the one bringing it up and telling me that she wants somebody in our school to beat her record.”
The junior made a strong case for herself on Sunday when she defeated the defending NCAA champion, Georgia’s Chelsey Gullickson, by a score of 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).
“I really prepared well for the match,” Morgina said. “I really wanted to win. I believed in myself, and I did it. It was exactly the same as every match I play. I was trying my best, and I was trying to hit shots in the court, which just worked better than usual.”
Morgina also played an outstanding doubles match against the Bulldogs, combining with partner Dominika Kanakova to upset Gullickson and teammate Kate Fuller by a score of 8-6.
Despite her efforts, the Gamecocks lost both of their matches last weekend by a score of 4-3. Morgina’s loss to the Tennessee’s Natalie Pluskota on Friday ended an eight-match winning streak.
“[The winning streak] wasn’t in my head,” Morgina said. “I think I’m in really good shape right now. It doesn’t really bother me, those thoughts. I just try to focus on the match.”
After playing at the No. 3 position last year, Morgina has developed into an elite No. 1 player this spring, collecting a team-leading 23 singles wins on the year.
“It’s a huge experience for me,” she said. “I’m really happy that the coaches decided to give me a chance to play No. 1, which is really important for me.”
The No. 1 Gators have six nationally ranked singles players as well as six nationally ranked doubles teams. Allie Will leads the pack as the No. 7 player in the country.
Currently ranked No. 39, Morgina will face one of her toughest challenges of the season when she battles Will.
“My goal against Florida is to do my best in doubles and in singles and bring as much effort as I can,” Morgina said. “I just hope to win that match and bring my ranking up. I really want to beat our assistant coach’s record. She was No. 13, and nobody since she graduated has done that. That’s my main goal.”