Photo by: Megan Westervelt
Editor’s note: Mallory Voelker is a senior who transferred to DU before her junior year from Purdue. Voelker is ranked No,.65 nationally. She has received several awards throughout her collegiate career, has appeared in the NCAA Championships and has was named Denver’s most valuable player for the 2007-2008 season. She has 18 singles wins this season.
Zac D’Argonne: What does it mean to you to have played tennis all four years of college?Mallory Voelker: I transferred to DU my junior year after playing at Purdue University. But playing for DU for the last two years has been a real privilege, and I am so glad that I decided to come be a Pioneer.
ZD: How do you feel you will fare in the Regional Championships? MV: I think our team will do great at NCAA’s regionals this year. We got a real taste of what it takes to get through the regional and onto the Sweet 16 last year, and I think it prepared us for what to expect this season. Our team is not only stronger this year but we are also more mentally prepared for the post season. I think that will help us a lot and hopefully we can make it out of the regional and onto the Sweet 16.
ZD: What are your goals for the NCAA Championships? MV: Our goal from the start of the season was to make the Sweet 16 so that is still what we are aiming for. If we accomplish that we will be really excited. I think any further than that would just be a bonus and it would demonstrate how hard we have worked all season.
ZD: What has been your greatest accomplishment as part of DU tennis? MV: My greatest accomplishment at DU was getting my 100th win during spring break. My goal at the start of this season was to get to 100 and I was able to get there, and I got my 100th win on the same match that my teammate Axi got her 100th win too. It was really exciting, and I am glad we got to share that moment together.
ZD: What has been your most memorable event? MV: My best memory from DU was our conference win last season. We were down in the finals to FIU but managed to pull out four amazing victories to come back and win 4-3. It was such a great win, and I will never forget that.
ZD: Do you have any plans to play tennis after college? MV: After college I have considered playing but I am not sure yet. I would really love to keep competing because I know I will miss it once I am done with college. I will probably play some ITF’s [International Tennis Federation] in the States and see how it goes. I don’t know if I am the next up-and-coming professional player, but maybe you’ll see me beating Sharapova one day!
ZD: What will you miss most about DU tennis? MV: The thing I will miss most about DU tennis is definitely my teammates. I have grown so close to this group of girls over the last 2 years and it will be really sad to not see them everyday. We’ve gone through a lot together so it will be hard to say goodbye to the team.
ZD: Why has your senior year been better statistically than other years? MV: I don’t really know. I came into this season just looking to have fun and to really enjoy playing so maybe that mindset has helped me out. I think that I have also learned so much over the last three seasons that by now I am finally putting it all together, playing at a high level and being able to beat good players.
ZD: Is there anything you would like to add about your experience at DU? MV: The only thing to mention is that DU women’s tennis is the best! Vamos Pios.
