Luke Loranger |
Women's tennis
Junior
Albany, OR
When did you first start playing tennis?
I started really late, actually. I started playing when I was 14, and (I) only played for 4 years before coming to college. I first started playing in eighth grade, and I liked it because I was in control, and got the ball every time, as opposed to working on a team.
What drew you to the sport?
This sounds kind of bad, but when you are playing singles, when you mess up it’s all on you regardless if you win or lose. I really like that it’s all on me. If I mess up, I lost, (and) it’s not on anyone else. I really like the individual nature of the sport.
How does this affect how you play?
I still have a gameplan, but it’s just little things, like when this ball moves I do as well. You still have a game plan and execution just like any other sport. However, you are not relying on somebody else hitting the ball, and in doubles you rely on your partner. I like doubles, and I think they are both fun, but what drew me into the sport originally was singles.
What do you play currently?
Right now I have not been playing in the lineup, and last year I played a lot of doubles.
What made you choose UP?
My brother went here, and he loved it and played on the golf team when the school used to have one. That made me really want to look at the school, and I really liked the schools coaches and the Portland area. It was my number one school, and I just wanted to come here. The tennis coaches were definitely a draw for me.
How does the UP program compare to other tennis programs you have been on?
I find tennis at University of Portland to be a lot more intense than high school tennis. In high school, they were people that just picked up a racket and came out for the season, and everyone here plays all year around and has been playing a long time. We are all very dedicated, and work hard.
What do you do outside of tennis?
Although most of my time is spent playing tennis and doing schoolwork, I do like to do yoga lot. On our off days, I like to go out to Core Power, which I find to be good stretching and strengthening. It allows me to do something, even on my off days. At Core Power I do hot yoga, where the room is 95 degrees, and it is relaxing, but not easy.
What are your plans for after college?
I plan to do tennis, but at a fun league like level. I don’t plan to go professional, and try and focus and get a job.
Do you have big goals for the season?
We have a big game against USF, and we all hope to pull off the win. This year the team is strong and we have the potential to do well. Right now we have only lost to ranked teams, and hopefully we can pull it off tomorrow against USF even though they are ranked 39. Our team this year is the strongest it has ever been, and we have great girls from all over the world.
