Stacey Lee was dominating her singles match at one end of the Combe Tennis Center. Elena Chernyakova was overpowering her opponent at the other end.
No. 1 Northwestern was finishing off a 7-0 rout of Purdue, and the Wildcats’ two freshmen were leading the way. Lee grabbed a 6-2, 6-1 win in fifth singles against the Boilermakers, while Chernyakova added a 6-1, 6-0 win in the sixth slot.
The journey hasn’t always gone so smoothly for the duo, but Chernyakova and Lee have begun carving out their roles on the veteran team. With five starters returning from last season’s NCAA quarterfinals squad, the freshmen have had to battle for every opportunity this year.
Even though the competition is intense, the upperclassmen have helped out their newest team members.
“It was really intimidating at first,” Lee said. “Everybody’s just so tough mentally on the court. Physically, everybody works so hard. But off the court, they’re great. I feel just as much a part of the team as if I’d been here for four years.”
Hailing from Old Westbury, N.Y., Lee was named one of the nation’s 25 “blue-chip” recruits last year by tennisrecruiting.net. But when she arrived on campus, the team still didn’t know what to expect.
“Stacey was kind of hard to get to know in the recruiting process,” coach Claire Pollard said. “I wasn’t necessarily sure what I was going to get. Right now, she’s a really good game player. I’m trying to get her to be a better practicer, and that’s sort of a work in progress.”
Lee has mostly played singles for the Cats and has amassed a 7-1 record in dual matches, including a 6-0 start in the Big Ten.
Lee hopes her strong Big Ten play will be enough to land her a spot competing for the Cats in the postseason, where a run to the national championship is a legitimate possibility.
“I’m just really concentrating on getting in the lineup,” Lee said. “I feel this year is really special, and it would be great to be part of it.”
Chernyakova, a Moscow native, already appears to have secured a spot on NU’s postseason roster. She has paired with junior Samantha Murray to form the Cats’ No. 3 doubles team. The duo has a 15-1 record in dual meets this season and has bolstered NU’s strong doubles play. The Cats have only dropped one doubles point all season.
But Chernyakova has yet to make her mark in singles play. Her win against Purdue was her first dual match of the season, and she passed that first test.
Adjusting to college tennis has proven to be a challenge for Chernyakova. She hit a peak last June, rising to No. 16 in the ITF’s world junior rankings and establishing herself as the No. 1 junior player in Europe.
“The biggest difference is that you’re not just an individual,” Chernyakova said. “You’re a part of something bigger – a team – and you do everything as a team.”
Chernyakova strongly considered postponing her college career to play in tennis tournaments around the world this year. She didn’t officially sign with NU until late in the summer, after talking with Pollard about some of the advantages of playing for one of the best women’s tennis programs in the country.
Pollard and Chernyakova have had their share of tiffs, but their relationship is growing.
“Elena’s a project for me,” Pollard said. “She’s a very strong-willed, stubborn human being. We have our fair amount of clashing, but I’ve been good for her, and she’s been good for me. And her tennis speaks for itself. She’s outstanding.”
Chernyakova and Lee may get more opportunities Thursday when NU travels to Williamsburg, Va., to face No. 55 William & Mary. The freshmen’s strong recent play has allowed Pollard to rest the upperclassmen more often.
“We’re eight deep this year,” Pollard said. “Stacey and Elena have made that happen for us.”
