While the sport she plays remains unchanged, the scenery for second-year Nikki Fernando of the University of Rhode Island women’s tennis team is drastically different than what she is used to.
A native of Kihei, Hawaii, Fernando left everything she knew behind to travel 5,024 miles to play her sport at the next level. For the number one singles player throughout her career at Seabury Hall on the island of Maui, the next level of competition for Fernando was certainly in the cards throughout her high school tenure.
However, choosing to come to Rhode Island to continue her career as a student-athlete was not a choice at random. Rather, it was a calculated decision of a desire to experience something different.
“I think being in Hawaii all my life, I always wanted to go somewhere with all the seasons and I think life is too short not to explore so many different places,” Fernando said. “Rhode Island, I think, was the perfect area and also I feel like the speed here is kind of similar to home.”
In her first season in Kingston, Fernando showed promise as a young talent. She tallied 11 singles wins last year, the second most on the team, as well as showcasing her versatility in doubles, going 11-6 on the season.
However, those stats came under former URI Head Coach Val Villucci, who retired this past offseason. The head coaching vacancy left a feeling of uncertainty, according to Fernando, but the team remained positive going into the new season.
“I think going into it for the whole team, [we had] an open mind and [we were] just being open to knowing that it’s going to be different and that it’s hopefully all going to be for the better,” Fernando said.
In August of 2023, Jonas Brobeck was brought in as the new URI Head Coach. The new leader has brought the Rams to a 10-4 record this season – the program’s first double-digit winning season in over eight years.
“[Brobeck is] coming in wanting the same things we do and I think it is showing, especially with our record this year,” Fernando said. “We are all fighting and having coach Jonas there to push us towards doing that has just been the best.”
After the squad’s latest triumph against George Mason University back on March 15, Fernando was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after going 3-0 in singles matches in the team’s three match road trip to the Washington D.C. area. In addition to her victory against the Patriots, Fernando also came out on top against Georgetown University and Mount St. Mary’s University.
Fernando was not the only Ram to win the award this season. Both second-year Sophie Herman and fifth-year Nadia Rajan were also recognized earlier this season. This is the first time in program history that three Rams have been recognized for the award in the same season.
“I feel like [winning the award] shows that all our hard work has been paying off,” Fernando said. “It was a big transition for all of us having a new coach and with that a new practice and match schedule and everything. I think being recognized for our hard work is very monumental.”
Two of those winners, Rajan and Fernando, are doubles partners this season. The duo has recorded a team high 11-2 record in the number two position. Fernando feels that the biggest threat the two hold is their mentality.
“I think a big thing that both of us have been trying to work on as individual players and as a team is energy,” Fernando said. “Just going out there and giving it our all, having a plan, sticking to it and no matter [if we] win or lose. Just keeping that energy I think is what makes or breaks our matches.”
Fernando and the rest of the Rams will continue their journey towards a successful season on Thursday at 1 p.m. when they host Bryant University at the URI Tennis Complex.