FARMVILLE, Va. - Longwood University freshman women’s tennis standout Paloma Alatorre/Katy, Texas has been named the Longwood Female
ARMS Software Athlete of the Week. She led the Lancers at Navy of the Patriot League on February 8 with a win at No. 2 singles (4-6, 7-6 [5], [18-16]), and teamed with classmate Anna Pelak/McLean at No. 2 doubles (6-7 [4]). Alatorre is 4-5 overall, 1-1 this spring in singles, and 2-7 overall, 0-2 this spring in doubles. Longwood will play again at Hampton University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference on February 22 at 1 p.m. in Hampton.
Question and Answer Session with Paloma Alatorre and Steven Sommer
SS: What does receiving Athlete of the Week honors mean to you?
PA: Most of all, it reflects that my hard work is paying off. Last semester I didn’t feel like I did my best, so I’m glad that the extra hours I’ve put in are beginning to show.
SS: Walk me through your last match at Navy.
PA: I started the first match strong, up 4-0, until the other girl came back and won 6-4. I felt after the first set that some of the calls were leaning her way, so that motivated me to win the second set even more. The second set was really close, and I ended up winning in a tie-breaker 7-5. After that, we had to play a super tiebreaker, which lasted almost twenty minutes, and while it was supposed to end at 10, I ended up winning 18-16. The match was very stressful.
SS: As a three year standout in high school, what has the transition to Division I tennis been like?
PA: It’s way different. High school tennis wasn’t nearly as serious as college tennis has been. My high school wasn’t huge as far as tennis is concerned, so I put most of my focus into outside tennis like USTA more than anything. I think that (USTA) compared more to college tennis than anything because it is more serious and more competitive.
SS: How has your preparation for tennis now changed from when you were in high school?
PA: I think my mentality is more focused and my standards for my play are much higher now because we practice and condition much harder now than in high school. My coach is much more serious now then my high school coach.
SS: Playing in the No. 2 singles position this year, what leadership role have you stepped into on the team this year?
PA: I didn’t think coming into the regular season that I would be playing so high in the rankings, and since I’m a freshman I’m mostly looking up to Sarah (Moomau), Bethany (Law), and Malin (Allgurin) because they’re upperclassmen. In a match, I try to always be supportive of the team, even if I’m personally struggling.
SS: Outside of tennis, what drew you to Longwood?
PA: Tennis was my main motivation. Since my coach, Casey, is from Texas, he kind of sold Longwood to me. I do like that it’s more of a northern area. Coming from Houston, Virginia is considered northern. I like this weather a lot more.
SS: If you could swap place with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?
PA: Probably Malin because she is always super disciplined and doing everything perfectly and I wish I was as disciplined as her. She’s always encouraging us to work harder, and that’s something I look up to.
SS: Who would you say is the funniest person on the team?
PA: I think everybody on the team is funny, but I think my two roommates Mason Thomas and Anna Pelak are really funny. They crack me up all the time.
SS: If you could play a sport other than tennis, what would it be and why?
PA: I think I would have to choose between soccer and track. I used to run track when I was younger, and I really enjoyed it until I started playing soccer, which was way more fun. I think what I like about soccer that tennis doesn’t really offer is that you compete as a team more.
SS: Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?
PA: I mostly just lock myself out of everything else with my music.
SS: What are some of your favorites? Movie, food, music?
PA: My favorite movies are probably the Harry Potter series and the Fast and the Furious series. For favorite food, I honestly love everything, literally. With music, I listen to just about everything except for classical.
