TicketsCINCINNATI - Freshman Elizabeth Pendergast is from Cincinnati and attended St. Ursula Academy just right down the road from UC. She has already made an impact on the tennis team in her first year as a Bearcat, being ranked preseason by the ITA after going 13-2 in doubles and singles combined during the fall season and also earning American Athletic Conference women's tennis player of the week accolades on April 2 after a 3-0 week on court one. We sat down with Elizabeth to talk about her decision to stay at home to play tennis for Cincinnati.
You're from the Cincinnati area, what really kind of helped in your decision in staying local and coming to play here for the University of Cincinnati?
"Well, after I came and visited, I just fell in love with everything. I already knew some girls on the team. So that was already something I liked about it. I didn't want to go somewhere I didn't know anybody. I also loved the facility after touring the Lindner building, I fell in love with everything there. The whole atmosphere of the campus, I think that's what did it for me, I just fell in love with it."
How would you say your first year has been?
"I'd say it's been pretty exciting. A new school record, with 11 wins in a row, I thought that was cool, to be a part of making history on the tennis team. That was definitely the exciting part. Our team's been doing really good this year. It's just been really exciting to be a part of it."
How would you describe this year's team, if someone asked you to describe the team?
"It really is like a family, we all get along so well. It's like having a bunch of sisters around all the time, we see each other every day. We wake up early for lift and then we practice again. So, you're seeing them every day, multiple times a day and the team just could not be more supportive. They're great. I'm so glad to have people like that in my life.
How would you describe coach Toth?
"He's a really great guy. I could not ask for a better coach. He is funny, but also very supportive, we'll be joking around at practice, but he also wants to take it seriously too. He also is very supportive with the team. I honestly cannot ask for a better coach."
How nice is that to be able to have family close by to be able to come and cheer you on. When you have home matches.
"It's really nice. I like having my family so close just because if I ever need anything, they're just one phone call away, one 15-minute drive away. When I was sick, my mom dropped off stuff for me, it really helps ease the stress away from being in college. Because if I need anything, they're there, they're very supportive. They can help me with anything. It's also nice seeing the dogs, getting to go home and see them is a lot of fun.'
How did you originally get started in the sport of tennis?
"My family moved to a neighborhood that was right next to tennis club when I was about three years old. They all got involved in it and they just kind of threw me in it too. So, I started playing around three. That was just more of a childhood type sport. It wasn't really taken seriously or anything. Around eight I really just fell in love with the sport and started taking it serious, playing tournaments and traveling."
What is it about the sport of tennis that you love?
"I love how, in college specifically, it's individually based but also you're a part of a team. You really just get to go out there and you're not just doing it for yourself anymore, you're doing it for everybody. It just comes down to how you individually are going to perform on the court and it all comes together, to be a part of this big team."
What did it mean for you as a freshman to get recognized in the ITA fall rankings?
"That was really exciting. I never thought that something like that would happen, especially my first semester playing college tennis. It really made me want to push myself to get better. The sky's the limit, if I'm getting ranked my freshman year, I think, what else am I capable of doing in my years to come?"
As a freshman, you've primarily played on the number one court all season, how does it make you feel knowing Coach Toth recognizes you as being able to handle that.
"That's also exciting to be playing number one. At first, it was hard to get into it, to go from playing junior tennis to playing number one on a Division I tennis team, but with Coach Toth and the whole team being there to support me, it really made it a lot easier."
What are some things that you're interested in outside of the sport of tennis?
"I love going on hikes. I walk around campus a lot. I'll drive to Redbird hollow and Indian Hill. I will go hiking there sometimes. I really like just being outdoors, the warmer the better."
How would you describe yourself in three words?
"I would say adventurous, energetic and ambitious."
What is it that you're hoping to study, or what kind of career are you possibly leaning towards as you figure everything out?
"I'm undecided for my major, but I'm taking some marketing classes and some classes in the business. I'm also exploring some other options, maybe in education, maybe something in sciences. Right now, it's all up in the air. Marketing is probably where I'm headed."
What are you hoping to accomplish as a Bearcat?
"The sky's the limit, whatever I can push myself to do is what I'm looking for. I'm just going to keep working hard and practicing with my team, whatever that leads me to I'll be happy with it."
UP NEXT
The Bearcats head off to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the American Athletic Conference Championships, starting on Wednesday, April 20 and going until Saturday, April 23.
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.
You're from the Cincinnati area, what really kind of helped in your decision in staying local and coming to play here for the University of Cincinnati?
"Well, after I came and visited, I just fell in love with everything. I already knew some girls on the team. So that was already something I liked about it. I didn't want to go somewhere I didn't know anybody. I also loved the facility after touring the Lindner building, I fell in love with everything there. The whole atmosphere of the campus, I think that's what did it for me, I just fell in love with it."
How would you say your first year has been?
"I'd say it's been pretty exciting. A new school record, with 11 wins in a row, I thought that was cool, to be a part of making history on the tennis team. That was definitely the exciting part. Our team's been doing really good this year. It's just been really exciting to be a part of it."
How would you describe this year's team, if someone asked you to describe the team?
"It really is like a family, we all get along so well. It's like having a bunch of sisters around all the time, we see each other every day. We wake up early for lift and then we practice again. So, you're seeing them every day, multiple times a day and the team just could not be more supportive. They're great. I'm so glad to have people like that in my life.
How would you describe coach Toth?
"He's a really great guy. I could not ask for a better coach. He is funny, but also very supportive, we'll be joking around at practice, but he also wants to take it seriously too. He also is very supportive with the team. I honestly cannot ask for a better coach."
How nice is that to be able to have family close by to be able to come and cheer you on. When you have home matches.
"It's really nice. I like having my family so close just because if I ever need anything, they're just one phone call away, one 15-minute drive away. When I was sick, my mom dropped off stuff for me, it really helps ease the stress away from being in college. Because if I need anything, they're there, they're very supportive. They can help me with anything. It's also nice seeing the dogs, getting to go home and see them is a lot of fun.'
How did you originally get started in the sport of tennis?
"My family moved to a neighborhood that was right next to tennis club when I was about three years old. They all got involved in it and they just kind of threw me in it too. So, I started playing around three. That was just more of a childhood type sport. It wasn't really taken seriously or anything. Around eight I really just fell in love with the sport and started taking it serious, playing tournaments and traveling."
What is it about the sport of tennis that you love?
"I love how, in college specifically, it's individually based but also you're a part of a team. You really just get to go out there and you're not just doing it for yourself anymore, you're doing it for everybody. It just comes down to how you individually are going to perform on the court and it all comes together, to be a part of this big team."
What did it mean for you as a freshman to get recognized in the ITA fall rankings?
"That was really exciting. I never thought that something like that would happen, especially my first semester playing college tennis. It really made me want to push myself to get better. The sky's the limit, if I'm getting ranked my freshman year, I think, what else am I capable of doing in my years to come?"
As a freshman, you've primarily played on the number one court all season, how does it make you feel knowing Coach Toth recognizes you as being able to handle that.
"That's also exciting to be playing number one. At first, it was hard to get into it, to go from playing junior tennis to playing number one on a Division I tennis team, but with Coach Toth and the whole team being there to support me, it really made it a lot easier."
What are some things that you're interested in outside of the sport of tennis?
"I love going on hikes. I walk around campus a lot. I'll drive to Redbird hollow and Indian Hill. I will go hiking there sometimes. I really like just being outdoors, the warmer the better."
How would you describe yourself in three words?
"I would say adventurous, energetic and ambitious."
What is it that you're hoping to study, or what kind of career are you possibly leaning towards as you figure everything out?
"I'm undecided for my major, but I'm taking some marketing classes and some classes in the business. I'm also exploring some other options, maybe in education, maybe something in sciences. Right now, it's all up in the air. Marketing is probably where I'm headed."
What are you hoping to accomplish as a Bearcat?
"The sky's the limit, whatever I can push myself to do is what I'm looking for. I'm just going to keep working hard and practicing with my team, whatever that leads me to I'll be happy with it."
UP NEXT
The Bearcats head off to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the American Athletic Conference Championships, starting on Wednesday, April 20 and going until Saturday, April 23.
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.