The Guilford College women’s tennis team opened its spring season in dominant fashion on Saturday, Feb. 21, sweeping Division II opponent Winston-Salem State University 7–0 and establishing early momentum for the year.
In the college format, teams compete in three doubles matches and six singles matches, with one point awarded to the team that wins the majority of doubles and one point for each singles victory. After claiming the doubles point, the team carried its energy into singles play and completed the sweep, winning all six courts.
The strong performance was particularly notable given the circumstances. Snow delays shortened the team’s preseason, leaving only 10 practices before the first match. Even so, Head coach Kim-Anne Kleimeier said the group showed maturity and preparation beyond the limited training window.
“I think what stood out to me is that Winston-Salem State was a really tough school with a competitive team,” Kleimeier said. “Our team really managed to rise to the occasion and apply the things we’ve been working on in practice.”
While technical development, such as serving, groundstroke consistency and conditioning, remains central to the program, Kleimeier has placed a distinct emphasis this season on mental strength. Tennis is uniquely demanding in that players compete largely on their own, without timeouts or constant sideline instruction. The ability to reset after an error or push through fatigue can determine the outcome of a match.
“You can have all the best strokes in the world and be extremely fit,” Kleimeier said. “But if you don’t know how to be mentally tough, tennis becomes incredibly difficult.”
That philosophy was visible in the performance of junior Chandler Sizemore. Sizemore acknowledged battling serve inconsistency and fatigue in warmer-than-expected conditions. Instead of letting frustration take over, she relied on small, controllable actions to steady herself.
“My feet were getting tired,” Sizemore said. “I just tried to keep them moving, because once you stop, that’s when [the tiredness] sets in. And I focused on doing the things I know will keep my serve in.”
Her approach of staying physically active between points and narrowing her focus to specific mechanics mirrors the mental tools Kleimeier has stressed in practice. Rather than dwelling on a missed serve or a tiring rally, Sizemore worked to reset immediately and stay present. That ability to persevere point-by-point reflects the team’s broader emphasis on resilience.
The mental component also showed in the way players supported one another. Kleimeier noted that even with first-match nerves, the team maintained positive energy and consistent encouragement across courts. In doubles, where communication is essential, that support becomes even more visible. Sizemore, who partners with Ashley Belnap, said effective doubles play starts with honest communication both during and outside of competition.
“Not even just on the court—after matches, after practice—just communicating how you’re feeling and how you can help each other,” said Sizemore.
The season-opening sweep provided more than just a win in the standings: it reinforced confidence. For a team that views itself as somewhat underestimated heading into the season, the result served as validation of its preparation and potential.
The team prepares to face many challenging teams throughout the season. Though many weather factors have limited practice time during the week, the foundation remains the same: rely on routines, trust preparation and stay mentally steady, regardless of conditions or opponents.
With a decisive 7–0 start and a renewed commitment to mental resilience, the women’s tennis team has shown that its strength lies not only in clean strokes and conditioning, but in the ability to persevere through nerves, fatigue and pressure—one point at a time.
