Double the fun for Vikings

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, September 29, 2006

Grand Island girls tennis coach Julie Neville says it was an easy choice.

At the beginning of the 2005 season, she was trying to figure out which players worked best at singles and which were better at doubles, and then find the right combinations. Fortunately for her, putting Vida Rostami and Lauren McGowan together at first doubles was a no-brainer.

“They play well together,” Neville said. “They both have their strengths, so putting them together was an easy decision. They communicate well. Doubles is all about communication, and they definitely do that very well.”

The pair thrived last season, going 12-2 in the Niagara Frontier League while earning First Team All-NFL honors. As a team, Grand Island wound up third in the NFL.

Now with a year’s experience of playing together, this year could be even better.

“It’s really helpful,” said McGowan, a junior. “At first, I thought it was hard to get used to her, but when you play with the same person, you know everything about how they play – how she hits, where she hits. You’re just ready for everything.”

Rostami says that she and McGowan are a natural fit.

“I think we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said Rostami, a senior. “She’s better at the net, I’m better back. When one of us is down, we know what to say and what to do to help the other out and win the point. We played over the summer and we’ve improved individually. Then when you put us together, we’ve improved even more.”

As important as it is that they complement each other on the court, both players understand that the mental preparation and toughness is just as important.

“You can’t get frustrated,” McGowan said. “If you get frustrated, your whole game is off. You can’t get mad – you have to stay focused.”

The pair is 8-1 on the season and already has avenged its only loss, which came against Kenmore East. And both players have taken on a more active role in the leadership of the team as captains, along with senior Courtney Donner.

“Those two, along with Courtney Donner, are the leaders on our team this year,” Neville said. “They’re role models. They get the team pumped up. And when there is a big match, they’re the ones that guide the young girls.”

While both players would no doubt be pleased with more individual accolades, they’re focused on their main goal: helping the Vikings to win the NFL title. And they’re off to a good start this season, having won seven of their first eight league matches.

They might allow themselves to think about the sectional playoffs, but not for at least the next two weeks when the regular season ends.

In the meantime, claiming the NFL crown is top priority.

“A successful season would be for our team to win the league,” said Rostami, who has been playing tennis since she was in elementary school. “That would make me very happy.”