Being named Player of the Week by the West Coast Conference signifies elite performance amongst a competitive NCAA Division I conference. For Lidia Gonzalez and Sofia Perovani, this proved to them that their hard work on the court is being recognized now, not just by their coaches and teammates, but by the conference itself.
Ashley Carcara | Loyolan; Graphic: Jules Kamoie | Loyolan
With the early season in full swing and breaking into the national rankings at No. 50, LMU women’s tennis team’s freshman, Sofia Perovani and graduate student, Lidia Gonzalez, were named Freshman Player of the Week and Singles Player of the Week respectively by the West Coast Conference (WCC).
“It feels pretty good, it’s a new conference to me. It’s exciting being named Singles Player of the Week of a new conference that you’ve never played in,” said Gonzalez. “I’ve been competing pretty well, so it honestly felt like a reward after all this hard work.”
All of Gonzalez’s dedication to her craft shows in her gameplay. After leading LMU to victory against the University of California, San Diego, she led a tight, constant battle with San Diego State University’s Jo-Yee Chan. As she competed at the No. 1 spot all week, Gonzalez demonstrated her ability to deliver and stay resilient through tough matches, which led to her securing the WCC honor.
For Perovani, a newcomer to collegiate tennis, this first season is about finding her footing and competing at her highest level. Being named Freshman Player of the Week boosted her confidence and game, reminding her to keep getting better every day.
Balancing the life of a student athlete while being thousands of miles away from home is no easy feat. But, for Perovani, coming to the United States, where they know how to better support their athletes, gives her peace of mind in her transition here.
“It was very nice … it’s good to see that the conference is recognizing that I did a good job,” said Perovani.
Gonzalez and Perovani have more than just tennis in common; they are both international students in their first year at LMU. Perovani, being from Brazil, and Gonzalez, from Spain, both experienced the difference in the game when they first arrived in the United States.
“In Brazil, I used to play a lot on clay courts. Here we play on hard courts, and the players are more aggressive,” said Perovani. “The game style is different. You have to adapt, and I’m doing a good job at it.”
While this may be Gonzalez’s first year at LMU, she joins the team bringing prior collegiate tennis experience from her time spent at the University of Kentucky. As a Wildcat, she played three seasons before tearing her ACL and missing out on her senior year. As she focused on getting healthy again, she knew it was time for a change.
“For my fifth year, I decided that it would be a good idea to try something new. So I knew the coaches here at LMU … they are one of the best coaching staffs in the country, and I decided to come here,” said Gonzalez.
Battling an injury is never easy on an athlete, both mentally and physically. However, the timing of Gonzalez’s ACL tear, causing her to miss out on her senior season, was salt in the wound. It was her teammates and coaches back in Kentucky that lifted her spirits and gave her the motivation to fight for her health.
“That really helped me to be a stronger person nowadays. It’s not hard coming back from that type of injury, [because] I was just thinking about getting back on the court and the rest would go automatically,” said Gonzalez.
For Gonzalez and Perovani, it’s about getting into a positive mindset for game day. Whether that be incorporating time into their routine to ease early game day nerves, or saying affirmations to remind themselves that they have done this multiple times.
LMU’s Women’s Tennis is a very international team. With only one American-born player, the team demonstrates world-class talent in women’s tennis.
“One day before the match, before I go to sleep, I like to do a meditation and think about what I’m going to do the next day … how I’m going to play,” said Perovani. “I just try to win, give 100%, and do everything that is in my control.”
Being one of the two graduate students on the team doesn’t stop Gonzalez from admiring her younger teammates and all the hard work they put in as they step onto the court. Sharing the WCC weekly honors alongside Perovani was special for her.
“I was so excited when I saw both of our awards. It’s so exciting because she wasn’t playing her best like a month ago, but honestly, it’s so admiring to see how she loves tennis and how she’s been putting this hard work on the courts,” said Gonzalez. “I’m very excited for her, and I think she is going to have a very successful college career.”
As Gonzalez and Perovani continue to grow their games at LMU, fans can catch them in action on their home court as they take on the University of California, Santa Barbara on March 4.