TicketsCINCINNATI – Redshirt sophomore Cassie McLay is originally from Boca Raton, Florida and transferred to UC in 2020 after one season at Appalachian State University. We caught up with the Florida native to learn more about why she chose to come to Cincinnati and how she got started in the sport of tennis.
What attracted you to coming to Cincinnati and being a Bearcat?
"My previous school I was at was in a small town, and I wanted to see the difference going to a city. So that is one of the biggest things that attracted me, seeing a different lifestyle and see new things."
What have you enjoyed the most since coming to Cincinnati?
"I like my team a lot, I think they are the best part of it so far."
What attracted to playing tennis?
"I was better at it than my siblings, so that attracted me to it. We all started off, there was a clinic at the local public park on Saturdays. My parents made us all do it every Saturday for one summer. And everyone quit except for me."
What has tennis taught you?
"In tennis, you are sometimes going to have a bad path in your mind sometimes. And it will be negative, but if you have the ability to stop that and change it to another direction and once you make that decision to change it, you can really go into another direction. And that can change the whole outcome of a match. And I feel like that is something that can really happen in everyday life.
What is it about the sport of tennis that you love, what kept you playing?
"I like the craftiness of tennis and you have to be pretty agile and fast to play. You can make it not boring through the art of the sport."
What are you hoping to accomplish in the sport of tennis?
"At this point, I just want to try and enjoy it as much as I can. I have been playing now for 13 years and you just have to try and enjoy it."
What has it meant to you to be a part of a team that went on an 11-game win streak, the longest win streak in program history?
"That was really cool. I don't think anyone really expected it. We gave always kind of been on that cusp of either winning or losing, and this year we were able to get on the winning side a lot of times and that was fun."
How would you describe this year's team and what have you enjoyed the most about this team?
"I think we have a lot of different characters and personalities on the team, and I enjoy that because you can learn more about our differences and you can grow from that. And so I really enjoy learning from them, our differences, and we have a good dynamic which is enjoyable."
What is one of your favorite memories so far?
"I really enjoyed watching Kelli [Niehaus] clinch the Marshall match. That was fun!"
What are three words you would use to describe you?
"I think thoroughly through things, not sure what word would describe that, but I guess I am a thinker you would say. I would also say I am easy-going and accepting."
What are you studying and what are you hoping to do with your major as a career?
"I am majoring in neurobiology and just thinking of going into research for now. I am very interested in the brain, and I think it's fascinating, we are all so different and it all stems from our brains. And I think it would be a career that I can be really passionate about for a long time."
What are some things you like to do outside of tennis?
"I like to play the guitar, drink coffee, do relaxing things like just going to the park. Taking it slow, I like the slower things."
Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
"I just hope to see a motivated person, someone who is not stuck in one place. And is successful on their own terms"
UP NEXT
The Bearcats will have a week off before traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the American Athletic Conference Championships, starting on Wednesday, April 20. Matchups and times will be announced next week.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWTEN) and Head Coach Eric Toth (@EricToth1) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
What attracted you to coming to Cincinnati and being a Bearcat?
"My previous school I was at was in a small town, and I wanted to see the difference going to a city. So that is one of the biggest things that attracted me, seeing a different lifestyle and see new things."
What have you enjoyed the most since coming to Cincinnati?
"I like my team a lot, I think they are the best part of it so far."
What attracted to playing tennis?
"I was better at it than my siblings, so that attracted me to it. We all started off, there was a clinic at the local public park on Saturdays. My parents made us all do it every Saturday for one summer. And everyone quit except for me."
What has tennis taught you?
"In tennis, you are sometimes going to have a bad path in your mind sometimes. And it will be negative, but if you have the ability to stop that and change it to another direction and once you make that decision to change it, you can really go into another direction. And that can change the whole outcome of a match. And I feel like that is something that can really happen in everyday life.
What is it about the sport of tennis that you love, what kept you playing?
"I like the craftiness of tennis and you have to be pretty agile and fast to play. You can make it not boring through the art of the sport."
What are you hoping to accomplish in the sport of tennis?
"At this point, I just want to try and enjoy it as much as I can. I have been playing now for 13 years and you just have to try and enjoy it."
What has it meant to you to be a part of a team that went on an 11-game win streak, the longest win streak in program history?
"That was really cool. I don't think anyone really expected it. We gave always kind of been on that cusp of either winning or losing, and this year we were able to get on the winning side a lot of times and that was fun."
How would you describe this year's team and what have you enjoyed the most about this team?
"I think we have a lot of different characters and personalities on the team, and I enjoy that because you can learn more about our differences and you can grow from that. And so I really enjoy learning from them, our differences, and we have a good dynamic which is enjoyable."
What is one of your favorite memories so far?
"I really enjoyed watching Kelli [Niehaus] clinch the Marshall match. That was fun!"
What are three words you would use to describe you?
"I think thoroughly through things, not sure what word would describe that, but I guess I am a thinker you would say. I would also say I am easy-going and accepting."
What are you studying and what are you hoping to do with your major as a career?
"I am majoring in neurobiology and just thinking of going into research for now. I am very interested in the brain, and I think it's fascinating, we are all so different and it all stems from our brains. And I think it would be a career that I can be really passionate about for a long time."
What are some things you like to do outside of tennis?
"I like to play the guitar, drink coffee, do relaxing things like just going to the park. Taking it slow, I like the slower things."
Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
"I just hope to see a motivated person, someone who is not stuck in one place. And is successful on their own terms"
UP NEXT
The Bearcats will have a week off before traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the American Athletic Conference Championships, starting on Wednesday, April 20. Matchups and times will be announced next week.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWTEN) and Head Coach Eric Toth (@EricToth1) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.