April 14, 2009
Adjusting to college life from high school can be difficult for the typical freshman. Throw in a completely different climate, becoming part of a nationally ranked tennis program, and entering a classroom full of students for the first time and you're in Missouri freshman Danielle Day's shoes.
But luckily, she didn't have to do it all alone. Day followed fellow club-member Jamie Mera to Columbia, Mo., and the freshman pair has helped the Mizzou tennis program to consistently stay in the national rankings for the first time in years.
Day and Mera both hail from Tampa, Fla. Mera attended Chamberlin High School while Day took classes through Florida Virtual at home. The girls started playing together about three years ago at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center where they were instructed by Alex Golub and began their friendship.
When Mera committed to the University of Missouri in the fall of 2007 tennis head coach Blake Starkey asked her about other players from Florida. to consider. Starkey traveled to the Sunshine State and, impressed by what he saw, offered Day a scholarship. Day committed to MU in the summer of 2008 and would surpass her final semester of home-schooling to enter her first classroom in January of 2009 in Columbia.
So, Mera came to Mizzou first. She went 8-4 in singles during MU's fall tournament play and paired with Mallory Weber to tie teammates Jessica Giuggioli and Kaitlyn Ritchie for the best doubles record at 9-3. With a lighter fall season Mera's adjustment was admittedly a little easier than her friend's would be and she was able to give Day some advice on what to expect when coming to college.
"I didn't really know what to expect. I had no idea," said Day. "She (Mera) really prepared me. I rely on her a lot. I'm still constantly asking her questions."
The girls spoke back and forth over the phone and, in December when Day visited the MU campus she stayed with Mera.
"There's a lot of things going into college that you don't think about or don't prepare for. I knew it was going to be really hard, especially the time that she was coming up," said Mera. "Coming from being home-schooled to fulltime classrooms, she was coming in right when we started our on-season. I had a whole semester to figure stuff out."
And then came Day. At just 17 years old, Day became the newest addition to Starkey's Tigers. The hardest part for her? (Besides an almost 20-degree drop in the average daily temperature.)
"Actually going to class and following your schedule," she said. "Figuring out where everything is and getting a routine down has been a really big challenge for me. At first it was difficult."
Though she admits it was a little challenging to adjust to a college class schedule and tennis practices, Day seems to be doing well. She made her Tiger debut in her hometown at the Johan Kriek Tennis Classic and went 4-0 at the tournament.
Entering Big 12 play both freshmen sported a team-best 9-3 record this spring playing with the poise and confidence you would expect from seniors. Mera has most recently stepped into the No. 1 singles spot while Day currently occupies the No. 4 singles position. Though they don't play together, the pair gets the job done in doubles as well.
"I didn't expect to play doubles," said Mera. "I've never really played doubles."
She appears to be doing just fine. So far this spring her and Mallory Weber have held down the No. 1 spot for the Tigers and recently took down 25th-ranked Vanja Corovic and Marija Milic of then No. 32 Texas.
Day and doubles partner, Sofia Ayala, have racked up a stellar 6-3 record against conference opponents and a 12-5 record overall in 2009. Both marks are team highs.
And though the competition is a little bigger than either girl was used to in junior tennis, intimidation doesn't seem to be a factor. Even knowing they are part of one of the best squads Mizzou has seen in years doesn't go to their heads.
"It's great. I feel like we should be, so it's accurate," Mera said when asked about MU's national ranking. "We work really hard. We have so many good players on the team. I think we should be ranked."
Once school concludes in May the pair will travel back to Tampa for the summer to train until the fall semester begins. Starkey and both the girls have seen their games develop to a new level.
"Tennis is such a bigger part of my life now," said Mera. "I'm playing better now than I ever had, and it feels really good."
Already seeing such an improvement, both girls know this year is only the beginning of a great Tiger program and are proud to be a part of the nationally ranked squad. They will get the chance to play together for four years and can only imagine the possibilities.