Mar 13, 2009

Dufour Excited for Upcoming Tennis Season

Dufour Excited for Upcoming Tennis Season
By Ashley Bock

For Elise Dufour, the 2009 Merrimack College women’s tennis season is something to look forward to. Dufour sees this season as time to build a new strong team, and to enjoy herself, as it will be the closing chapter to her successful Merrimack career.

The senior tennis player tried out as a sophomore and walked on to the team, and says it was one of the best decisions she has ever made. “It was a good experience. We developed a family and a really tight-knit group,” says Dufour. She feels that the 2009 season will be a strong one because of the breakdown of the team.

“We only lost one senior from last year and we have three new freshmen. We also have five seniors this year who have all been together for a while.” Dufour and fellow seniors Nora Cahill, Andrea Faris, Brittany Holmes, and Allison Lydon are a close group who hope to share a great last season. “Our relationships together and how we work together is huge. We are all friends.”

The season is already looking good, with a strong preview in the fall. “We only played one conference match in the fall, and we won that, so it set the pace for this spring,” explains Dufour. “The team is doing pretty well so far. We are 2-0 this season and we’re really excited for spring break in Orlando.”

Every year the team travels to Orlando to experience some out of conference play, as well as some warm weather. “We’re pumped for this year. We’re ready,” says Dufour.

With just a few months until graduation, Dufour looks to have a successful future after Merrimack. The computer science major has also double minored in computer engineering and French and is looking to get hired at one of the many places she has had internships in the past. Over the summer she worked for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Rohde Island and did work in their software development under water vehicle department. Dufour says she is staying in contact with this company and will hopefully continue her success with them in the future. She plans to remain busy as a student in the future as well, “I want to eventually get my masters, we’ll have to see what happens though.”

Dufour is excited to see how the Merrimack women’s tennis team will flourish in the future, “I think we have depth this year and potential for next year too.” Dufour thinks the hardest part about graduating is going to be leaving her friends. “Leaving the team will be hard. I am going to miss all of my friends, on and off the team, but mostly the tennis friendships. I will be back all the time for sure. I am going to hate leaving.” She knows, however, that her friendships will not end after graduation and says that she plans to still see the team as often as she can.

Dufour and the tennis team leave for Orlando this weekend to start spring break play, in hopes of continuing their undefeated streak.


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