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Graduate Players Reflect on NGWSD as Alabama Women’s Tennis Prepares to Host Memphis and Furman
2/4/2021 3:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Coming off National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Wednesday, graduate players Alba Cortina Pou and Sydney Riley reflect on what athletics means to them
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – It has been a busy week for the Alabama women's tennis team, including a match last Saturday, another on Tuesday and two more coming up this weekend.
In between those matches the Crimson Tide took time to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Wednesday and reflect on how their careers have impacted their journeys through life.
"Having the opportunity to continue my athletic career and education here at Alabama has been such a blessing to me," Sydney Riley said. "Being around such positive and supportive people who show how much they care has changed my life in the short time span that I have been at the University."
For Riley's fellow graduate player Alba Cortina Pou, tennis has been a wellspring of lessons that go well beyond athletics.
"One thing that has helped me so much is learning how to deal with mistakes on the court, and how to be positive no matter what," Cortina Pou said. "A match is very long and that no matter how I'm playing, I need to fight for every point until I can find a way to comeback."
Both women also realize that they have the opportunity to serve as role models and mentors for little girls the world over.
"The best advice I can give is to keep a positive mindset, trust the process and do the right things consistently," Cortina Pou said. "If you can do that, good things will come."
Riley recognizes that being a student-athlete is not an easy road, but the life skills learned along the way, such as perseverance, time management, leadership and countless others, are invaluable.
"I believe that sports teaches us so many important values and being a women in sports gives us the opportunity to spread awareness when it comes to gender equality and to set new standards for society," Riley said.
Cortina Pou, Riley and their teammates have another chance to put their life lessons through sports on display this weekend, with a pair of weekend matches. The Tide opens with Memphis on Friday at 1 p.m., while facing Furman on Saturday at 11 a.m. The matches will be streamed live on RollTide.com.
Due to health and safety considerations in addition to the current guidelines, attendance at Alabama tennis home competitions is on a first-come, first-serve basis until reaching capacity if the matches are played outdoors. Facial coverings must be worn at all times unless eating or drinking. If matches are played indoors, there will be no spectators allowed.
Get all the latest information on Alabama women's tennis by following AlabamaWTN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
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