Junior aims to build on career year
Coming off a historic season that saw her advance farther than any Rutgers tennis player in regional championships in the program’s history, junior Vanessa Petrini set her goals even higher this season.
“I’m really looking forward to beginning the season and doing just as well, if not better, in regionals,” Petrini said. “I worked hard all summer and trained. I’m going to take each match at a time with all the tournaments coming up this year and do my best.”
Petrini advanced to the semifinals last season of the Division I Women’s Northeast Regional Championships.
She also earned All-Big East Women’s Tennis team honors last season, something she is proud of.
“It’s always an honor to be named [All-Big East],” Petrini said. “I’m just going to try my best to do even better than last year and hopefully get even further to get my ranking even higher.”
Petrini sported a 13-8 record last season in singles play, along with a 15-6 record in doubles to help lead the Scarlet Knights to 13 team wins.
The Knights do not have any seniors this season and are very young overall. But head coach Ben Bucca expects Petrini and fellow junior Stefania Balasa to step up as leaders.
“Vanessa is going to be a very important member of the team,” Bucca said. “Vanessa is returning this season as the No. 1 singles player last year, so now her role on the team is much bigger than just what Vanessa has to do to bring out the best in her game, but also to influence the culture on the team so that it brings out the best in everyone.”
The youth and lack of senior leadership does not change Petrini’s expectations for this season.
“We have three really good recruits coming in, and I’m sure they’re going to do really well,” Petrini said. “They’re all top high school players. I have really high expectations for us.”
Bucca also has high expectations for Petrini.
“I’m hoping she comes back this fall inspired by her play last year,” Bucca said.
Bucca said what separates Petrini from most players is her ability to stay calm in stressful situations and come through in the clutch.
“That moment brings out the best in her game, which is one of the reasons she had such a successful year last year,” Bucca said.
Petrini worked hard in the offseason, she said, to prepare for a successful season.
“I’ve been training a lot with my coach and a couple guys from my area that are also college tennis players,” Petrini said. “I’m really looking forward to the season.”
The Stamford, Conn., native, arrived at Rutgers in 2010 as a highly touted freshman. She earned early playing time and has been a key contributor to the team ever since. Petrini said she chose to attend Rutgers because of the campus and team atmosphere.
“I’m super happy here,” she said.
