Lexi Smith of Rindge just wrapped up her second year playing for the Plymouth State women’s tennis team, where she’s working hard to get on the court and enjoying life as a student-athlete.
The Panthers were knocked out in the Little East semifinals last weekend to finish Smith’s sophomore season at Plymouth State. Head coach Barbara Rawlsky-Willett asked her to try out for the team as an incoming freshman, and Smith has reaped the benefits of structure and a built-in social group as she makes her way in college.
“[I liked] getting the experience of being on a team and understanding the value of getting to know each other and also playing with each other,” Smith said. “It made my college experience at school and on the team a lot better just automatically having those friends.”
Smith is hovering just below the top six everyday players, but did play in two matches this season, going undefeated in singles and doubles play at Lyndon State and Johnson State.
“She’s got some work to do to make the top six,” Rawlsky-Willett said, “but she’s a hard worker and she’s a great team member, and boy, she’s a pleasant girl and a contributor in ways beyond being in the top six.”
Smith took a year off from tennis in high school at Conant and as such found herself competing with this year’s similarly experienced incoming college freshman class for playing time.
“I didn’t get the match experience when everybody else got match experience their junior year,” Smith said. “Even just playing on the college courts is letting me get that experience.”
Smith is the second Conant alum in recent memory to play for Rawlsky-Willett’s Panthers, as 2016 grad Alex Dunn also made the squad, and the coach said the Orioles always come in well-prepared on and off the court.
“Both of them had good work ethics and were great teammembers,” Rawlsky-Willett said. “They know how to operate on a team and contribute to a team no matter where they are on the ladder. They work hard in school as well as on the court.”
Smith is pursuing a degree in early childhood education and hopes to become a first- or second-grade teacher after graduation.
“I really like the program they have,” Smith said. “All the professors are super nice, and very flexible and understanding that I’m on a sports team and might be missing classes.”
With some more offseason work, Smith hopes to crack the top six over her final two years at Plymouth State; no matter what happens, she’s loving the experience.
“I put in all the hard work and I’m not necessarily playing for every match but it’s still fun to be a part of,” Smith said, “and I like putting in the hard work, because it makes me feel better about myself, being able to play a sport while in college.”