By: Victoria Williamson | Sports Editor
LYNCHBURG, Va. – While the University of Lynchburg experienced a sweep of the ODAC Doubles Pair of the Week awards on March 9, the accolade was a direct result of the six months of work put in by both pairs during the off-season. For both senior Jorge Patricio Zepeda and junior Kayla Kosiorek, the success they found in Hilton Head was through recovery and having “first-ball” aggression.
For the men, Zepeda and partner Ricards Spaks thrived at the Spring Tennis Fest in Hilton Head, S.C. Zepeda credits their success to a deep trust with his partner that helps make court movements instinctive.
“When you don’t have a second guess of where your partner is going, the game becomes a lot simpler,” said Zepeda.
He also noted that while playing four matches in such short windows was exhausting, the team stayed focused through nutrition and recovery sessions.
“Keeping our energy levels high became more difficult as the week progressed, but the hotel’s hot tub and cold pool were our best friends for recovery, and staying on top of nutrition and hydration was also essential,” he said.
On the women’s side, Kayla Kosiorek and Isadora Lima had a nearly perfect weekend, only dropping a few games across their three matches. Kosiorek emphasized their dominance, which stemmed from a specific focus on attacking at the net.
“Our coach implemented crossing over at the net on a first serve, which really helped us get ahead by attacking early,” said Kosiorek.
Kosiorek also found that winning in doubles gave her the competitive rhythm she needed to succeed in her singles matches.
“Doubles helps sharpen parts of your game that translate really well into singles, like being aggressive on returns, moving forward, and finishing points at the net,” she said.
As the season progresses, both programs will look to recapture the momentum from Hilton Head, striving for a place at the top of the conference through technical discipline and team chemistry.
For more information, visit The Official Lynchburg Sports Network.
