Horned Frog Profile: Kayla Duncan

By Luke Urban

A Sophomore tennis player attributes her improved play this Fall to a change in mental attitude.

Staying focused during matches has helped Kayla Duncan win key matches against five nationally ranked opponents.

Duncan is 5-3 when facing ranked opponents this year and 12-4 overall. She is 5-0 when teamed with doubles partner Megan Alexander. “One of my biggest things in matches is my mental attitude on the court,” Duncan said.

She says coaches have helped her stay positive on the court and stay focused when she makes a mistake. “I would get so angry on the court that I would tell myself I couldn’t hit a certain shot that day,” Duncan said.

Duncan says the coaches have helped her look at different situations on the court from different nuisances of the game. “They really helped my ground strokes, just fine-tuning things and making sure it looks correct,” Duncan said.

The improved focus Duncan says has given her the ability to close out opponents at a faster pace. The new attitude has helped Duncan stay calm in matches where she normally would not be able to handle the pressure.

The women’s tennis team’s next tournament they will be traveling to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the Kitty Harrison Invitational November 6-8.

See Kayla Duncans full interview at http://blip.tv/file/2756112