Kaitlin Ray’s finger made a world of difference in her appreciation of tennis.
After being out for two months with a strained tendon in her right ring finger, the sophomore women’s tennis player conveyed her rejuvenated fervor for the game following her time recovering on the sidelines.
“I think in any situation where you get injured, you don’t quite realize how much you love something until it’s taken away from you,” Ray said.
Coach Stella Sampras Webster called Ray’s play prior to the injury among the most consistent within the team, and also affirmed that she was one of the team’s most dependable players. This performance was exemplified by Ray only losing three times as a freshman during the 2011-12 season. She has once again returned to her dependable role now since recovering from the injury, going undefeated in her matches over the past two weeks.
While sidelined with the injury, Ray found alternative ways to contribute. Despite her absence on the court, she still sought to make her presence known at practice.
“She still worked out with us and still came to practice with us every day. So she was always here with a positive attitude, and it was great having her around,” said sophomore Robin Anderson.
Sampras Webster spoke of that same attitude. Ray’s encouraging attitude rubs off on teammates and coaches; in this manner, she assists the team in multiple dimensions, through both her play and her personality.
“We wanted her back in as soon as possible because of her positive attitude and energy … I think when we got her back at practice, it definitely made a difference. When she’s at practice, people want to hit with her, people want to play with her. She brings people up,” Sampras Webster said.
Ray said that waiting on the sidelines was motivating, especially after having been sidelined with an injury for the NCAAs last year. However, despite her anticipation to play, she recognized that every player must fill a niche within the team, even those who aren’t playing.
“If my role hasn’t been able to, the past two months, be out on the court with them, it’s then my job to bring a positive attitude, bring work ethic and all of those intangibles to the team,” Ray said. “I pride myself on the girls always being able to depend on that from me.”
But now that Ray has moved past the injury and returned to the courts, she has put aside playing the role of a supporter from the sidelines and has resumed her consistent play once again.
The coach and Ray are excited for the future, and the coach said that Ray is only getting better and returning to comfort with every match.