Stuckey leads team in season of redemption

Two seasons ago, the women’s tennis team found itself with four freshmen on the roster, each from a different country.

Chemistry and camaraderie on the squad would not be simple given the possible communication issues. In stepped then-sophomore Lindsey Stuckey to help unite the team for its season and future.

Fast-forward to this year – Stuckey is now the lone senior and captain on the team. She continues to strive to bring a geographically diverse team together for the season ahead, junior Katya Zapadalova said.

“Right now she’s a captain, she’s a senior, and we all listen to her,” Zapadalova said. “She knows what team atmosphere – team spirit – is. She brings us together. She sets the goals for us. As a leader, she’s great because she knows us well.”

Stuckey said she relishes  the responsibilities that come with mentoring younger athletes.

“I like being the only senior on the team,” Stuckey said. “I have everyone underneath me. It’s good to take on a leadership role. It’s been a good experience.”

Traditionally, different classes on the women’s tennis team have their own responsibilities, IU coach Lin Loring said.

Sophomores are in charge of organizing birthday celebrations, juniors design the next season’s uniforms and seniors serve as captains and the line of communication between players and coaches. 

Loring said Stuckey is ready for the duty.

“She’s seen it coming this year,” he said. “It’s not like it was thrust upon her. She’s gone through the process and is in a position where she’s ready to be our team leader.”

While she is the only senior, the four freshmen from two years ago are now seasoned juniors and help to keep the team close-knit and running smoothly, the coach said.

“Hopefully everyone on the team is a leader in some way,” Loring said. “So I don’t think there is added pressure. We’ve got four juniors on the team, so it’s not like she’s the only upperclassmen.”

Zapadalova said that she and the rest of the team have benefitted from Stuckey’s leadership by example – her poise in particular.

“Watching her, she’s always really calm on the court, no matter what the score,” she said. “She’s so calm. She can win, she can lose, but her attitude will always stay the same.”

Stuckey hails from Greensboro, N.C. It is typically unusual for a player from the South to play collegiate tennis in the Northwest. However, Loring has recruited from the South, especially Florida, in the past.

Stuckey also has family ties to the Big Ten and was drawn to IU by the Kelley School of Business.

“My parents are from the Midwest, so they were pushing me to come up here,” she said. “Indiana’s a great school, and it has a great business school and that’s what I’m studying right now. Overall it’s been a really great experience, and if I could do it all over again, I would.”

After graduation, Stuckey plans to take a break from the sport but expects she will miss it and return to the game before too long. Right now, though, she is focused on ending her college career as best as she can by leading a team with two new players and looking to improve from last season.

“We have two new players this year who are both really solid players,” she said, “and I think they will add a lot to the team in terms of our performance as well as the team in general. I think we will have a great year this year.”