The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER losing their first three games on the road this spring, freshman Sydney Clarke and her University of Arlington at Birmingham Blazers women’s collegiate tennis team got on the winning circle.

In their return home at the George Ward Park on Wednesday, the Blazers pulled off a 5-2 victory over Mercer in a home opener in the 2021 fall season. With the win, the Blazers extended their home winning streak to 10 matches dating bck to April 6, 2019.

Although Clarke was only a part of two matches that occured during the spring season at the end of 2020 when she entered UAB to begin her studies in business and journalism, she was delighted with her team’s latest performance. “It was still a little up and dpwn, but it was better,” was how Clarke described their performance.

Clarke and Megan Betrands combined to play doubles, but they lost to Alara Hollyfield and Lekha Varudandi 7-6 in the tie breaker.

“It was a lot of improvement because in the previous matches, we were not even close,” Clarke reflected.

“This time we were in it. We just fell down in certain areas and made more errors than our opponent, which was a major factor.”

In the singles, Clarke prevailed with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 win over Lekha Varudandi.

“I had a slow start, but in the second set, I picked it up and in the tie breaker, I just took it away,” Clarke pointed out. “I was really focused and I got through each point one at a time. “I just have a habit of starting slow and normally I would feel my way and just trust my self and work my way back into the match.”

“It feels good. I know I’ve been implementing what we do in practice, so I’m very pleased with my performance,” she said. “I just hope I can continue to keep a balance and I can dominate a little as the season progresses and not be so tense. Just be free and play and try to make my game even better.”

UAB, which began the 2021 season by losing three straight matches to Power 5 teams in Alabama, Georgia Tech and Mississippi, will be back on the court on Valentine’s Day on Sunday when they face Alabama A&M.

The match was to have originally been played at George Ward Park, but has been moved indoors to the Athletic Club Alabama in Huntsville because of the cold weather forecast.

“We have to show some love,” said Clarke, who has been trying to juggle her academics with practicing in the cold weather.

“I have to be on top of things and plan my week in advance so that I can get my assignments in so I don’t fall back.”

Becuse of the weather, the 19-year-old immediate past top ranked junior female player in the Bahamas said she misses being home around her parents, Shayvon and Bernard Clarke, and sister Sarai Clarke, along with the rest of her family and friends.

But as they continue to play without the fans in the stands because of the safety protocols implemented as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the former CR Walker student who went on to graduate from Windsor High School and the Albany Tennis Academy said she’s coping as best as she can.