Photo Courtesy of SWC Athletics
CALM, THEN FURY—Low-keyed Paulina Hernandez unleashes a high-velocity backhand for a point against Grossmont.
By Ines Cervantes
The most courtly of court sports had become a little testy.
Cassandra Chaidez and Paulina Hernandez had seen enough. They were more determined than ever to win against the Grossmont Griffins.
Grossmont played on their nerves with distractions and some less-than-gracious behavior. Chaidez wore her displeasure, placing a hand on her head and swinging her racquet to wallop any invisible antagonist.
Hernandez smiled through the frustration and leaned into the stress of the close match. Then she called for a time out.
Coach Susan Reasons was ready. Sage of Serve, Baroness of the Baseline, Reasons quickly dispensed her advice and drifted back into the viewing area. She seemed nonplussed.
“Three, two, one,” Hernandez counted down as she prepared to serve. She unleashed a laser unlike any she had hit all day. The fuzzy yellow orb shot over the net and split the court.
Game, set, match.
Reasons beamed from the sidelines. It was one of those perfect coach moments. Her players took the advice and it worked.
“They’re improving every match we play and it’s a wonderful thing to see,” she said. “Tennis is all about improving a little every time out. These players had a good game. They represented our school well and took away valuable lessons on confidence.”
Reasons, a constant along the sidelines and an institution at Southwestern College, is retiring as the women’s head coach. She will stay on to teach classes and help oversee the construction of the new tennis facility.
