JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's tennis team takes the trip to Belmont, NC, for the Belmont Abbey Invitational after a solid showing after the ITA Championships.
Freshman Leah McBride led the way for the Eagles at the ITA Championships, making a run to the quarterfinals with two seeded victories before facing a stout test in the No. 1 seed, Nadja Meier. Despite dropping the match, McBride believes this test prepares her well for the future.
"That match was definitely a learning experience for me," McBride said. "To see how much growth people can have through their college experience… She's a very good player, and it was a great learning experience."
After the big run by McBride to the quarterfinals, head coach Jon Parker came away impressed and believes that McBride will continue to be a big part of the team's success moving forward.
"She's a gamer," Parker said. "She's been a pleasant surprise to have on our team… I'm really impressed with her game and her ability to compete is pretty impressive as a freshman."
McBride realizes it's still early in the fall season, but she believes that continuing to practice and train as a team will help them maintain success.
"It is still early," McBride said. "Obviously, continuing to practice and train will help us as a team going forward."
Looking at the Belmont Abbey Invitational, McBride sustains the same mindset she has going into every match.
"Sometimes looking at the competition doesn't really help my mental game," McBride said. "You have to go in with the mentality that everyone is good, and everyone wants to win, so we have to go in with the same idea."
McBride and the Eagles take the court in Belmont on Thursday at 9 a.m. as they look to continue an impressive start to the fall season.
