The First Version of this Entry Was Better.....
So, I spent the better part of half an hour laboring away on this very entry for my dedicated readers two days ago. Come to find out, this blogging system automatically logs you out after a while, and all of my hard work and incredible witty insight was lost in the blink of an eye. Please excuse me if this entry seems forced, trite, or in any way boring, because I do not normally consider myself to be any of those things.
I'll get to the spring break update and other news in just a moment, but first I'd like to share a little experience that reflects my feelings on being a senior. Just the other day, I was enjoying the glorious spring weather of Lexington while walking to pick up my car from a friend's country house. Many of the W and L students live out in "country houses," so entitled because there is a rustic sort of charm, I suppose, to having your landlord clean cow poop from your yard. As I passed one of these homes, I noticed a single, gold, Jack Rogers sandal nestled in the grass, looking lost and alone. I felt bad for its mate, probably equally lost somewhere in the squalor of a frat basement floor. Instinctively, I wanted to laugh, imagining some poor girl staggering to God-knows-where, off balance from only having one shoe, and surely being none the wiser. Then I wanted to throw up, thinking about the mess she would have to endure being shoeless in a frat house. But in the end, the shoe made me a bit nostalgic. Being a senior, the sight of the lonely sandal made me realize that I only had a few weeks left to throw caution, and my rainbows, to the wind.
Suddenly, I panicked. What was happening? I was feeling......sentimental. Eric once told me that I would grow out of my sarcasm, but I quickly assured him not to worry, as long as The Hills was still in production, I would always have something or someone (coughHeidiandSpencercough) to make fun of. Now, though, I wasn't so sure. At that moment, I watched as a green SUV drove by. In the front seat were two shirtless boys, whose farmers' tans and frat shags perfectly complimented their Oakleys with croakies. The rolled down windows allowed Britney Spears' "Circus" to blare loudly in all of its metrosexual glory. With a bromance like this, it was little wonder that girls at W and L have trouble getting dates to formal functions. Uncharacteristically, I had no words. But I also had no doubts that I am ready to leave this place.
Obviously, I'm a very sarcastic person, but I really will miss so many things about Lexington; the people, the professors, even the schoolwork- but I'll especially miss the team. Our most recent spring break trip only reminded me of all of the things that I love and hate about playing collegiate tennis. To a certain extent, I think my feelings on some aspects mirror those of everyone else who plays tennis: losing is terrible. A loss is never fun, especially when you have a long car ride home with no ice cream to console you. Our loss to Emory over break, then, was understandably very disappointing, despite the fact that they are a very talented team. I'm a particularly miserable person to be around after a loss - I get moodier than an emo Edward Cullen (you're welcome Caire). But the victories against Wofford and Presbyterian gave us a chance to prove that the Generals could come home from spring break with more than just the swine flu (which I can't say is true of our whole student body...thanks Cancun vacationers). We had a couple of really great individual victories in particular, like Blair Brzeski, who stepped in at five for the Wofford match, and had a poker face that put Pete Sampras and Lady Gaga to shame. Ellen's singles match against Emory also really stands out in my mind, because I have never seen a freshman play more like a senior. Props, Ellen.
Spring break also taught us a lot off the court, such as: 1) The importance of good directions. As a fun side trip, we got to go shopping on King Street in Charleston. While the trip was supposedly for "the girls," I believe that somehow a pair of plaid tennis shorts made their way into Eric's shopping bags (plaid is so hot right now, just ask Michael Freeman). After shopping, Meg and I were allowed to drive our boss Jeep Commander back home. My dad could have told Eric that it would be a bad idea for me to "wing it" back to the house from King Street. He says that I have a "bad sense of direction." I still contend that bad is relative. After all, almost one hundred percent of the time, if you go in the exact opposite direction of what I tell you, you will be going the right way. Anyways, after crossing two bridges, and passing numerous street signs, exits, and a fountain, all of which Meg and I were positive we recognized, we realized we had traveled....oh an hour or so out of our way. I could tell that things were getting bad when I thought I recognized a CVS, and then realized that that was like using McDonald's as a landscape: not such a good idea, because they appear on every street corner and all look EXACTLY THE SAME. The moment the eyes of lady at the pharmacy counter widened in shock when we asked her how far we were from the Isle of Palm, I vowed never to go anywhere without a navigation system again. 2) The importance of manners and decorum when stalking celebrity tennis players In an amazing turn of events, we were able to attend the Family Circle Cup tournament that happened to be going on while we were in Charleston. We watched as Elliott's friend, Shenay Perry, took out a top seed in an amazing match. We also learned about the proper ways to conduct oneself when at a pro tournament. For example, it is not only appropriate, but encouraged, to take the SWAG being handed out, because that makes you look VIP. At least half the time at the event should be spent in the tents, trying on new tennis clothes. A respectful, but pushy, distance should be kept when watching big tennis celebrities practice, so that you can admire their technique, and be first in line to get their autograph. And finally, it is always a good idea to partake in a fast return contest, no matter what shoes you are wearing, so that you can win the Babolat hat prize (I still think you were dumb not to take that, Elliott.) 3) The importance of sugar in moderation. Because we were usually strictly denied sugar pre-match, this one isn't so much a lesson we had to learn, with the exception of the cookie incident. As I'm guessing that my reader's patience is growing thin, I will skim over this event, but I suppose that if you are on the team, you'll know what I am talking about and you can laugh to yourself. Poor Patillo- she almost quite literally suffered from a sugar rush to the head.
Finally, on to the important stuff. I know you've been dying to read about the
GENERALS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Meg Spalitta is only the second team member to capture this prestigious and somewhat ambiguous award. Meg is the co-captain that actually gets stuff done, (like she would probably write in this blog more than once a month) both on and off the court. She has a 14-2 singles record and is 13-3 in dubs. She once even talked Cameron Diaz out of buying this truly heinous angora sweater at Fred Segal. She loves Pina Colodas and getting caught in the rain, so if you think she's the love that you've searched for......TOO BAD, she has a boyfriend. Ladies and gentlemen, Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeg Spallliiitttttaaaaaaaaa:
Full name:
Margaret Ann Spalitta
Major(s):
Business Administration Team appointed animal look-alike: Golden retriever
 
Hobbies/Activites
other than tennis: Can this not be a question...I got nothing.
Post
Graduation Plans: Working as an analyst at Harris Williams & Co. in
Richmond, VA
Best tennis
memory: That would have to be my match against Julia Cohen in the 12s at the
Orange Bowl - who I saw in the US Open Juniors Draw very recently... amazing.
Anyway, the girl acted like a complete nut case freak. She would whip out these
absurd dance moves/ body gyrations when I was about to serve or even in the
middle of the point... completely psyched me out, and I actually thought she was
mentally handicapped. So I lost badly... but got the sportsmanship award at a
national tournament! I'll take it.
Favorite shot:
Drop shot/lob combo Favorite drink: Tang (???)
Favorite
tennis player: Andre Agassi
Any pre-match
superstitions? Not really... but I get a little worried if I lose the toss and
have to return first. I also don't serve with the same ball twice if I miss a
first serve.
What would you
do if you won a million dollars? First I would install a top of the line sound
system in the Duchossois and one for the outdoor courts...
then, individual leather recliners for water breaks (like they had at
Family Circle Cup). Finally, I'd put a pool back there... by the Frisbee golf
course. There wouldn't be much left after that. (That's very generous Meg, considering you won't be using the Duchossoiss after this year. Got an alumni match planned or something?)
If you were a
type of fruit, what kind would you be and why? I don't know, so I just took
quiz to see what kind of fruit I am... here's what I got: "Strawberry - You
are the berry of choice. Everyone wants you. But you are not open to everyone.
You are a sexy fruit..." - seriously that's really what it said
Recent polls
have shown that a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map. Why do
you think this is? I doubt this is a legitimate poll since I can't find
anything on it... except for Miss South Carolina's very eloquent response...
ha! But, I would guess that these people are either (1) under the age of 5 or
(2) not actually Americans. (A much better answer than Miss South Carolina's painful one, which can be seen here.) Bye everyone! I bet you can't wait for the next entry, all about ODACs, nationals, and a double PLAYER AND COACH OF THE WEEK feature!
A Dark Night
Friends-
As you can tell from the lag between entries, it's been an exciting few weeks here in Lexington. Actually, I'd like to rephrase that: it's been a busy few weeks of DOIN' WORK (both on and off the court). When you live in Lexington for too long, you begin to think that midnight WalMart runs are exciting, and nothing that exciting has been going on since I last wrote. Anyways, I've been getting some feedback that people are waiting on this entry. It makes me feel famous- and I'm not going to lie, I don't hate that. Besides, if this guy can be famous, why can't I?:
I know, I know, his legs are fabulous and his hair is fierce, but give me a chance and I won't let you down! I swear I would be just as avid an advocate for vegetables as him!
So I suppose people are interested in hearing a little bit about tennis too. About 10 million years ago we played JMU and Carnegie Mellon. James Madison, a Division 1 team, was a great opportunity to play some really tough competition before our match against Carnegie Mellon. Though we lost 5-4, I think everyone came out of the match really motivated, and most of us played really well despite the loss. It definitely geared us up for the following Saturday against CMU, which was great for two reasons: 1) we won 6-3 2) my friends showed up with a poster that said "No, you look fat, but you look good." Thanks guys! I think the key for us so far has been to build on our successes and learn from the hardships; we've used all of our experience to make every match better than the last one.
That win was made even better because Fancy Dress ball, (W and L's prom) the best thing to come to "William and Lee" since Busta Ryhmes, was upon us. The theme was A Dark Night, after the batman movie, which was a great idea because who doesn't love to be creeped out at formals? And I'm sure for some, it was a very dark night indeed. So dark, I would venture to bet, that for some it was like a blackout. I didn't end up going, but if I had, I know that my moves would have stunned everyone. I would have looked something like this: 
In fact, that's me on the right.
I'm sure everyone had a great time at Fancy Dress, but more importantly, we had to get ready for Atlanta. We were all excited at the prospect of great tennis, 16 hours of bonding time on the bus, and Chick-Fil-A. But before we left, there was one thing we had to take care of. Katie Harris was being inducted into our leadership fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa, a huge honor, and our job was to notify her by giving her the letter as proof of her superiority. Of course, before we did that, we had to scare her to death and make her believe that she was being kicked out of school or something like that. We ended up telling her that some incriminating photos from Fancy Dress made their way into our athletic director's hands, and she was being asked to resign from one of her positions on campus. The look on her face was sadder than Justin Timberlake's when he was told that his dogs were being repossessed. I almost felt bad.....Congratulations Katie! I won't lie, I had some doubts about the fun factor of spending eight hours on a bus whose toilet inevitably compounds in stench over the length of the trip. But I can honestly say that I had a GREAT time. We ate good food, visited the Patillo's beautiful home, had spiritual experiences at the hallowed halls of Lenox mall, and watched Twilight featuring the beautiful Edward Cullen. The tennis was pretty good too.
Middlebury gave us quite a match on Thursday, but we managed to pull it out 5-3. Unfortunately, Meg didn't get the chance to finish her match. Eric started to breathe again when Laura Patillo clinched the match. I think he might have even given her a hug. After the tight match on the first day, we came out really strong on Friday against Depauw. The final score was 7-2, and I think everyone was really pleased with how we played. I know that I was so pleased that I allowed myself to spend enough money to fund a small nation on clothing the next day. Sunday was Williams, which was obviously a charged match since we lost to them in the finals of nationals last year. We lost 5-4, but I was really impressed with the effort of every single person. We were right in the match, and if we end up playing them again, I know that it will be another great battle. It's always fun to play a team that really challenges you. Before I go, I did want to share one small tidbit that I received from Lauren Caire. She pointed out the glory that is Yahoo answers, and although there are eleven just like this, this was my favorite: Why are the holes in cats fur always in the right places for their eyes? On one hand, this could almost be a deeply existential question. Unfortunately, I don't think that was the intent. Hopefully all three of you reading will check my next entry about the FAMOUS MEG SPALITTA. Until then, peace, love, Generals.
RETRACTION
This is VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT SO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION CAREFULLY TO THE REST OF THIS ENTRY.
I previously mentioned that one of the worst parts about the Mary Wash trip was Elliot's music. I would like to revoke that comment, as Elliott's music is not terrible, but generally tolerable, and sometimes even good. Elliott, on the other hand........
Just kidding Elliott! Please don't make me print another retraction!
W and L Best Week Ever: DABA, Mary Wash, and Player of the Week
Still not quite sure how to
actually do this "blogging" business, I turned to my fellow bloggers
on the internet for some inspiration on how to start this entry. (By the
way, it's truly amazing how much unsolicited advice you can find online without
even really trying.) Luckily, I stumbled across a blog that has
absolutely nothing to do with tennis, but that I still thoroughly enjoyed.
That blog is "DABAgirls" or Dating A Banker Anonymous- a
support site for women going through personal crises because their i-banking
boyfriends have cut back on their Bergdorf allowances and private pilates
sessions. I know, you can't make this stuff up. My favorite post came from Cathy, whose age has not rendered her any less creative when it comes to stretching that dollar in this economic downturn:
"OK I'm not in my 30's
I'm in my 40's, so me and my banker have a lot to lose - the apartment with
private roof deck, 2 kids, opera tickets, the wine club. We agreed to
pretend nothing would change (though we wouldn't do anything lavish - we stayed
in Manhattan for Christmas and finally saw the Nutcracker, for example) until
he got his number in January, and then we'd adjust, whatever."
Poor Cathy. Her fear is understandable; with
so much to lose- the apartment, the wine club, her two children- she makes the
rest of America look selfish for wanting to keep the luxuries in our own lives,
like housing and toilet paper. Not the opera! Take my kids, but not
the opera! What kind of a sick world do we live in where American citizens
have to live in fear that their own children will be repossessed by
the Government? Stay strong, Cathy. Fight for your wine club
membership! So what does this have to do with tennis? Absolutely nothing, except to make me happy. Happy to know that on the court, I lead a relatively uncomplicated life free from the typical American concerns of child abduction and a Christmas stuck in Manhattan. Needless to say, Cathy has really taught me to count my blessings.
Speaking of blessings, this has really been a great
week for the team. Even Caire made it out alive, and it was really touch-and-go there for a while. After a good showing against Mary Washington yesterday, we came out with a slim 5-4 victory. Mary Wash is always a great team to play; they battle until the end, they're good players, and they're really nice girls. Plus, one of our past teammates, and my former doubles partner, Ginny Wortham came to visit, so that was pretty boss. Some highlights of the trip: (1) Eating (2) Visiting Mary Wash; it's like our home away from home. (3) Fighting back from 1-2 down after doubles to eventually win. (4) Eating Some not-so-good parts: (1) Elliott's music (2) I sat in something sticky in the van. I do not want to know what it was, but it's not coming out. (3) Lauren, Ann, Trelsie, and Jen harrassing a lady they thought to be "Ellen" in the Hardee's bathroom. I do not think that poor lady enjoyed it when we yelled over the stall door "Don't forget to wash your hands. Actually, don't. Because that will take longer." It was later discovered that Ellen had been in the van the whole time. So, sorry if you were that lady minding your own business, trying to use the bathroom in a Hardee's on Route 3 yesterday. With two conference matches tomorrow, James Madison University on Tuesday, and Carnegie Mellon and Fancy Dress Ball on Saturday, we have a crazy busy week ahead of us. And now, as promised:
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauren Caire, our junior captain and my doubles partner, has garnered
the first weekly prestigious "Player of the Week" award. I
emailed these questions to Lauren earlier today so that we could really get to
know the girl behind the uniform.
Unparalleled in talent, finesse, and class, Lauren's down-the-line
forehand has reportedly made Roger Federer want to retire, knowing that it
could never be equaled. She has the beauty of Heidi Klum, the brains of
Albert Einstein, and rumor has it that she once beat Chuck Norris in a
roundhouse contest. Ladies and gentlemen, Lauren Caire: 
(She's gained some weight since this photo, but those bangs are still so now.)
Name: Lauren Brady Caire
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Major: Business Administration
Team-appointed animal-look alike: Laughing hyena
 
(I see the resemblance....do you?) Favorite athlete: Three-way tie-- James Blake, Shaun White, Ronaldinho. Perfect Day: Easy....I would wake up and walk into the kitchen where my personal Starbuck's barista would hand me a grande coffee with two splendas and a dash of milk. Then I would walk outside and read a little Twilight on the terrace (and I would skip all the parts about Jacob because he's annoying.) It's around 75 degrees outside so I take a long walk in the park with the new chocolate lab puppy me parents surprised me with earlier in the morning. After the walk, I would go shopping for a very long time. Then it's siesta time after which I go have a mexican dinner with my friends and then spend the rest of the night singing in a karaoke bar. Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Blue Bell's Cookies and Cream....the original cookies and cream. Favorite Movie Quote: "Call it friendo." -No Country for Old Men Sweet or Sour? I will not choose. I want them both. I was addicted to those sweet and sour chewy candy balls when i was little. I overdosed on them often. Roger or Rafa? Ana Ivanovic What should people know about you that they don't already? I make the best grits ever!! They call me gritmaster. (I didn't know grits were so much work Caire. Isn't that like saying you make the best cereal ever?) What should people know about the team? We're doin' work.
Get it Generalllllssss
I can't guarantee that anyone is going to want to read this besides my mom, but just in case you're deeply devoted to women's tennis at the Division III level, I'll start off with a little intro to the team and my school. (By the way, hey mom, and thanks for raising me with a confidence that is disproportionate to my actual talent and appearance. Just look at the places your daughter is going.)
School: Washington and Lee University Mascot: Generals Location: Lexington, VA (pop. 4) Colors: Royal Blue and White Women's tennis coaches: Eric "the Panda" Ishida, assisted by Elliott "how 'bout them Wildcats" Datlow and Katie Blaszak. Interesting fact about Lexington: It has a plaque dedicated to a day where ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED. To me, that day is called: everyday.
No, but really, Lexington is beautiful, as is W and L, and I'm very lucky the school overlooked my SAT II math scores. This is where I get to attend class everyday:
And now a brief self-introduction:
Name: Katie Tabb Major: Accounting and Art History Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Favorite Book(s): Anything that David Sedaris writes. I'm also a big Dr. Suess fan. Favorite TV Show: Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Religious Views: I have met God, and his name is Eric Ishida.
Okay, down to business. The team played two conference matches this weekend, one at home against Hollins, and one against Virginia Wesleyan at Randolph Macon. (Thanks again to the Randolph-Macon coaches for hosting us.) This was our basic plan going into battle:
Luckily, we turned up the intensity during the matches and the kinks worked themselves out on the court. With victories in both matches, the Generals ended the weekend with a 2-1 record thus far. The season is really getting started, and I can tell that the team is excited and ready for the upcoming weeks of travel. Mary Washington is next on the list for this weekend, so we've been preparing by walking on coals and laying on beds of needles. Oh, and we've also been hitting, running and lifting almost everyday too. Wish us luck!
And in case you need some incentive to stay tuned, just wait for my "Meet your General Tennis Player of the Week" spot that I plan to introduce next time.
-Katie
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katie Tabb
Senior, Washington & Lee
Katie enters 2009 as a three-year letterwinner and team captain for the Generals. She teamed with Lauren Caire to take fifth in the ITA Small College Championships in the fall, and is the third-ranked singles player in the region entering the spring. Katie finished last season as the top-ranked singles player in the Atlantic South Region and was an All-American in both singles and doubles, as well as the 2008 ODAC Player of the Year. She posted a 22-7 singles record and a 28-3 doubles mark. As a junior, she won the main singles draw at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships and placed fifth at the ITA National Small College Championships.
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