By Kasey McMillian
Reporter
The term “jack of all trades” takes on a whole new meaning as Baylor athletes stand in for one another in sporting events outside of their scholarships.
At the Hurd Tennis Center on Jan. 20, the women’s tennis team defeated Prairie View A&M 5-2. The Baylor line-up consisted of three newcomers, athletes who are currently players of other sports for Baylor. Due to multiple injuries, the new addition consisted of two players from the women’s volleyball team, junior outside hitter Zoe Adom and senior setter Brittany Ridenour, and a member of the women’s soccer team, junior forward Dana Larsen.
“I’m really proud of Dana, Brittany and Zoe,” head coach Joey Scrivano said in a press release. “They are just great kids. It says so much about them to come out and help us on such short notice. We have a ton of respect for them, and we hope they had fun.”
Adom has some past experience with tennis, as she has played since junior high.
“I had one practice, a pre-game practice, then the next day was the game,” said Adom. “It was so last-minute and spontaneous, and I loved it.”
Ridenour has experience with tennis because she played her senior year of high school in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She graduated from Baylor in December but agreed to help out the volleyball team.
She was able to play because she is still taking classes at Baylor and said she has free time now that she is done with volleyball.
“They were open to work with me since I was trying to help the tennis team out,” Ridenour said. “They have been very supportive and I have become a part of a smaller team. It has been a fun way to end up my athletic career at Baylor.”
Adom and Ridenour were partners in a doubles match during the game against Prairie View A&M. They have not won a match yet but they proved themselves by winning two of the five games.
“They didn’t need an All-Star to go out there and play; they just wanted someone that would go out there and have fun and help the team out as much as possible,” Adom said. “They’re my teammates and now I can go to them too. I want more people to come out and support them because they are amazing. They are amazing athletes that are doing great things for Baylor and they should definitely get the credit.”
Ridenour was asked to play with the team again after the match against Prairie View. She traveled with the tennis team on Jan. 25 to Ennis at the Lion Indoor Tennis Facility.
Larsen was defeated in two singles matches but said she enjoyed the opportunity.
“It was a fun experience and of course I’m going to go out there and do my best for Baylor and for the tennis team,” Larsen said.
