The University of Idaho Argonaut

Vandal tennis player, Basia Maciochaz, practices in the Kibbie Dome on March 3. File Photo

The Vandal women’s tennis team has added a great new addition to their squad this season — a new freshman from Boise.
Annamaria Gould from Boise’s Bishop Kelly High School recently joined the tennis team as a true freshman where her talent is already being recognized on the court.

“I always listen to Queen’s ‘Eye of the Tiger’ or ‘We are the champions’ before every match, it helps me pump myself up,” Gould said.
Gould chose the University of Idaho in order to travel away from home, be a Vandal tennis player and continue a solid career in architecture as well.

“Annamarie appears to be learning the difference between the junior and collegiate level tennis,” said Idaho coach Tyler Neill.
Neill said the tennis team plays a two-season schedule where the fall season is focused on tournaments where individual athletes play in matches based off a random draw.

In the spring the teams go head-to-head as each school brings its top six players to compete at a variety of tournaments.
“My coaches are so supportive of my career choice, and UI was close yet far enough from home,” Gould said.
As a whole the Vandal squad is relatively young, with seven sophomores and three juniors.
Being the only freshman on the team she has already played her way to competing with more experienced players at other universities.
Last Friday Yvette Ly, Alexandra Ulesanu and Gould all played well in the Cougar Classic at Washington State University all weekend.

“We had a solid start to the season,” Neill said. “After a tough start on the first day, our team bounced back well with a strong day on Saturday.”
Gould showed no signs of being nervous or inexperienced at the collegiate level when she advanced into the semifinals of the No. 4 singles draw.

“It was good for everyone on the team to get some matches,” Neill said. “Everyone on the team won at least one round which really shows the depth we have on this team.”
Since Gould is new to the collegiate level, she said her most memorable moment as a Vandal thus far was her first tournament at a higher level because she went onto the court and performed well.
She said her mom was her inspiration and biggest influence in becoming a tennis player.

“My mom started me in the sport, she always wanted me to become a tennis player,” Gould said. “She just got me to love the sport.”  Although she does not see a career in tennis after college, she said she knows she will continue hitting and enjoying the sport.
Just one month into the season, the team has been training daily for two hours and conditioning three times a week.

“We have tournaments on the weekends, and we are taking it easier in the fall,” Gould said.
The Vandal women will be traveling to Gonzaga and Eastern Washington University this weekend to play in the Fall Invitational.