Female Athlete of the Week

Name: Carlie Smith Sport: Tennis Year: Senior Major: Pharmacy… Name: Carlie Smith Sport: Tennis Year: Senior Major: Pharmacy

Playing George Mason Feb. 23, Pitt tennis coach George Dieffenbach gave specific instructions to senior doubles partners Leah Friedman and Carlie Smith.

The duo was matched up against an opponent Pitt’s coach knew well. It was his daughter, Sarah Dieffenbach.

The elder Dieffenbach instructed Friedman and Smith that they needed to be prepared to hit a lot of overhead shots, because his daughter hits a lot of lob shots.

Friedman and Smith did just that and won the doubles match, 8-3, to seal Pitt’s first sweep of the season.

Smith used aggressive tactics to defeat Dieffenbach and her partner in that match, but that wasn’t how she always played.

“When I came out of high school, I used to play not to lose,” Smith said. “But I progressed and realized that to win I needed to control a match.”

Her coach agreed.

“She’s a hard-working lefty that is very coachable,” Dieffenbach said. “She has truly transformed from a good baseline player to one that covers the full court better.”

Dieffenbach calls Smith a student of the game who spends her summers and practices constantly improving.

The studious Smith showcased those talents this past weekend in the team’s match against West Virginia. Smith and Friedman won their doubles match to help clinch the Panthers’ first ever victory against the Mountaineers in 28 tries.

“She played a critical role,” Dieffenbach said of Smith. “She got aggressive and served well.”

Smith’s career record stands at 118-80 in singles and doubles matches combined. This places her second in team history behind teammate Kristy Borza, who has 119 wins.

“It’s a healthy competition between the two of us,” Smith said. “It helps us play our best.”