By Lindsey Boyd
Tennis literally celebrated half of it’s team today as it honored seniors Marie Klocker, Marine Dans and Gaelle Rey with a 7-0 win over San Diego State (5-17).
“Since it was senior day I really wanted to win,” Rey said as she reflected on her feelings going into her last home game.
Gauvain and Klocker finished first in doubles 6-1 followed by Tamara Culibrk and Miyo Kobayashi 6-4.
“Maybe doubles there was a little pressure,” Dans said after her match with Rey went unfinished. “I don’t know why — maybe because it was the last home game.”
After SJSU swept in doubles, the seniors were commemorated in a ceremony filled with family, friends, pizza and pictures. The celebration took some of the pressure off for the seniors as they headed into singles.
“The ceremony made me feel good about myself and really happy,” Dans said. “Happy to be here to show people what we can do — what I can do.”
Klocker quickly defeated Kennedy Davis 6-0, 6-1 in singles and was happy with her finish but the moment was bittersweet.
“I am sad to leave but it has to be done,” Klocker said. “I cannot stay forever, right?”
As for the rest of the team, Kobayashi finished next 6-1, 6-3 and Culibrk followed 6-4, 6-0.
Dans was the next senior to finish and won 6-1, 6-4. Rey was right behind her with a close first set, 7-6. However, she fought back and easily clinched the second set, 6-2.
Sybille Gauvain was the only Spartan to be dragged into a tiebreaker set, but came out ahead 6-4, 3-6, 1-0.
“I told them before the match nothing is going to be given to you,” said head coach Chad Skorupka. “You have to earn everything ‘till the end and I think you saw that in the last match.”
The team will start preparing for the Mountain West Championship which begins Thursday April 27 in Las Vegas.
“I think if we win the doubles point, we could win the conference,” Klocker said, who is determined to bring home a championship win.
At the end of the match, Skorupka had his own way of celebrating the win—with putting a little cake on Klocker’s face.
“I knew before the match that I was going to do that to Marie… I let her get me back,” Skorupka said after wiping frosting off of his face.
For Skorupka, a win for the last home game of the season was great way to send off the season but, the team isn’t done yet.
“We want to finish out with something very special…the second team Mountain West Championship for San Jose State University,” Skorupka said.