Women’s Tennis: Panthers relying on experience to assist new coach

The Pitt tennis season appeared to be more of the same for Kimmy Borza as she headed into her senior year. After the departure of longtime Pitt head coach George Dieffenbach following the 2012 season and Pitt’s decision not to retain interim coach Michaela Kissell-Eddins the next year, Borza was looking at her third head coach in three years.

Luckily, that third head coach was Alex Santos.

While an assistant coach at the University of Miami, the Hurricanes finished each season in the top 10 of the national rankings and in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. He was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year last season after Miami notched its first ACC championship in school history.

Santos’ employment with Pitt was officially announced in July. In an official release by the University, Executive Associate Athletic Director Donna Sanft called Santos “a rising star in the tennis coaching world.” 

Hailing from Oeiras, Portugal, Santos brings a distinctive and unique approach, and his team has responded well to it.

“Alex is a lot different of a coach,” said Borza, who is 10th in program history in singles winning percentage. “He’s a lot tougher, in a good way. He’s put us in a great position to succeed.”

And succeed is what the Panthers have done so far in their fall tournament season. Heading into this week’s NCAA regional tournament in Charlottesville, Va., the Panthers have won four doubles and two singles titles in just three tournaments.

When discussing transitioning from Miami to Pittsburgh, Santos downplayed the move. 

“I’m teaching the same things. My philosophies are the same,” Santos said. “But each year, you always have to adapt to your players.”

So far, that adaptation has been smooth, particularly with the two true freshmen on the team: Audrey Ann Blakely of Wyomissing, Pa., and British recruit Lolade Ogungbesan.

The two freshmen have totaled two singles and two doubles titles this fall. Their showings so far have impressed other players and their head coach.

“I’ve been really impressed with them,” Borza said. “For them to come in and not only make an impact, but to push all of us in practice — it’s been great to see.”

Santos cited the mature mindsets of the underclassmen as a reason for their success — this shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Blakely’s two sisters were both Division I tennis players and Ogungbesan trained at prestigious tennis academies in England.

But Santos also credited team veterans such as Borza for helping Blakely and Ogungbesan ease their way into collegiate competition.

“Our upperclassmen have been doing an incredible job pushing our underclassmen and explaining things to them,” said Santos. “They have put their arms around the younger girls and have guided them.”

In a press release, Ogungbesan expressed her contentment with her teammates.

“I love all my teammates — it’s really true,” Ogungbesan said. “Sometimes I just think about how lucky I am to be on a team where I actually like everybody, because I think that’s very rare.”

The team will head down to the University of Virginia to finish up its successful fall season with the ITA Atlantic Regional Tournament. Although no draws have been announced, Santos and the Panthers are prepared for the tournament.

“We’re going to face some tough competitors,” said Santos. “We’re expecting to compete hard. Really, we just want to leave the tournament as a better team and as better players.”