After a long "off season," Brooke Zielke and Jasmine Abunaim are gearing up to head to the NJCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship in Tyler, Texas, May 5 to 10 at Tyler Junior College.
In the fall, the Cyclones finished third in the region tournament and third in conference. However, Zielke and Abunaim remained undefeated at No. 1 doubles for a championship and berth to nationals. Abunaim also was champion at No. 2 singles.
The duo needed much needed time off after the fall to heal injuries and soreness while refocusing on school and work. They reconvened official practice in March, working out at times with the men's tennis team. They were constantly connected to the sport, however, coaching kids in the area.
They'll face a tough lineup of athletes from around the country, but they're excited and ready to go.
"They are as ready as they can be considering our season was done in October. They have been working really hard the past month or two. It can be difficult to get back into the swing of things while out of season, but they are being positive and having a lot of fun," said Head Coach Breanna Vollan, who is headed to nationals after her first year coaching the Cyclones. "We are all feeling a mix of excited, anxious and curious. There will be some amazing players at the tournament, so we are excited to see such a high level of play. They are nervous, as to be expected, but are also super excited to go to Texas and have another chance to play tennis."