I didn't even think I wanted to play college tennis during my junior and senior year of high school. My mom is a tennis coach… So, if that paints any picture, tennis has been in my life awhile. I thankfully decided to give it one more shot and try to get back to the love I used to feel. Now, playing on the Otterbein women's tennis team has probably has been one of my best decisions in my life.
 
Stepping into my first year of college, at first as a commuter during COVID, I didn't really have anyone as a support system. I remember being in a freshmen tennis group chat that I never responded to, as others reached out to see if I wanted to play cornhole. From the first time we all met, until now, I have been so blessed (quote from Jamie Price) to have a team and coaches that really care about everyone. That was especially important my freshman year since we had to wait until the end of March to even play a varsity match….
 
Starting matches up again was hard for me because I would get mad at myself… even if there was no way that I would lose. I would get an anger that was so hard to deal with that I began to resent tennis. I had stopped individual tournaments my sophomore year of high school and was on the brink of quitting. My mom was the coach of our high school team and kept pushing me for "one more year". The anxiety and perfectionism would kick in every match, and I would cry throughout the week leading up.
 
This brings us to the point (a couple weekends ago) where I advanced to the quarterfinals of our ITA Regional Tournament in Michigan… an event that I never thought I had a chance in. I joked on the bus ride there that I would win the whole thing and go to nationals in Georgia. When I finished my match against the fourth seed, there was a real moment that I smiled and knew that it wasn't actually that crazy of a thought...
 
This might sound strange, but smiling and yelling "let's go" is not normal for me. I was competing against these highly-ranked players and, as things progressed, they seemed scared of me. The feeling when opposing coaches would go to their players and coach hard, because I was in a competitive match with them, was insane. It was the first time I got total joy back. Being able to share it with my mom, coaches, and teammates was the best part.
 
I could feel my watch going off in every tight match I played in at the ITA Regionals… especially in the Round of 16 where I won in three sets. Our tennis group chat was cheering me on and keeping me going, and they didn't even know it.
 
My teammates, Lillia Walter and Emma Henson, cheered me on in person the entire quarterfinal. They were also great despite me losing in another three-set match, which made us drive four and a half hours through the middle of the night back home. It reminded me of our OAC Tournament semifinal match against Ohio Northern, where we had previously lost during the regular season but pulled one out with Jordan Traxler's clinching match in the postseason.
 
Our men's tennis team was banging and screaming on the walls with every point that she won, and our head coach was famously punching a back curtain in the facility (hopefully you've seen the video).
 
I was also reminded of the feeling that our women's team had when the guys came up just short in their OAC Tournament Final in the spring on match point, with a chance to go to nationals. It was a devastating feeling, but one that showed how much we all care about each other. I wouldn't give our team up for the world… and I think we have something very special here. It was the reason I picked Otterbein.
 
Going forward, I can see how much stronger I can become mentally and have learned, through much stubbornness, that help from others is okay. I still have a love-hate relationship with the game of tennis… and probably always will. But with a program like this, it becomes more fun every single day.
 
Erin Storrer
Major: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
Class: 2024