Alabama
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Mississippi State, Ole Miss
Alabama Women’s Tennis Rookie Duo Excited to Get Crimson Tide Career Underway
10/15/2020 3:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Freshmen Anne Marie Hiser and Sydney Orefice, who grew up as training partners and friends in their home state of Georgia, got their Alabama career’s started with last weekend’s SEC Challenge No. 1
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For freshmen Anne Marie Hiser and Sydney Orefice, high school dreams became Crimson Tide reality this past weekend as the Georgia natives opened their Alabama women's tennis careers at the SEC Challenge No. 1 in Tuscaloosa.
Growing up one state over, Hiser and Orefice spent their high school careers as friends and training partners, and eventually both signed on with the Tide to continue their tennis careers. Hiser knew that Alabama was the place for her early on, visiting as a sophomore and then taking an official recruiting trip as a junior, while Hiser decided on the Tide after visiting during her junior year.
"As seniors, every day at practice we were talking about what our dorm room was going to look like and how it was going to be competing on the same team," Hiser said. "The transition was easier for us because we're best friends. Going through this experience with her is an awesome opportunity and I've had an amazing time already and I'm so excited for the next four years."
That support system made the transition from high school to college easier for the peach-state duo.
"A lot of people coming here and don't really know anyone," Orefice said. "For me, I'll always have Anne Marie to help me along the way and I'll always be there to help her too."
Even with a friend from home to help ease the move to the college ranks, the fall was going to be different for everyone. Last March, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down sports, including tennis, putting a halt to practices and competition.
"Sydney and I played a doubles tournament in February and I played a national team event in March, and at that time I had a couple more events planned before coming here in the fall. I had no idea that after March 13th we were going to have a month and a half off of tennis, not even being able to practice," Hiser said. "So it was a long time."
The two rookies began their first semester at Alabama in August and started to move into the swing of things.
"Even being a new player here, I would always get a text or a call asking 'How are you? Is there anything we can do for you,'" Orefice said. "Everyone has been welcoming and they are here for me no matter what. It's amazing that I have that support system. It's been like having a second family."
While both have enjoyed the experience of starting classes and practices, getting to know their coaches and their teammates, Hiser and Orefice, and the entire Tide lineup, were excited to get back to competition last weekend.
"It hit me during one of the change overs … this was actually happening," Orefice said. "I wasn't just imagining it. Having Coach Jenny (Mainz), Coach Jonatan (Berhane) and Coach Keith (Swindoll) there, and having the whole team rooting for me, it really hit me that this is where I am, and it's not just something I imagined, I was actually here, playing for Alabama."
Hiser had a similar reaction to her first tournament playing for the Tide.
"It was so exciting to be back out there and be able to play matches and compete," Hiser said. "Especially now, being able to play for a team and knowing that your team is there cheering you on and that you are representing Alabama. Just having that in my head made me compete better and fight for everything. Now, we're in college tennis and it's a team sport so being out there was amazing, just to get the opportunity and the experience of playing for the Tide, it was unbelievable."
Both women will get that experience again this weekend as the Tide heads to Starkville, Miss., for a rare Friday, Sunday tourney, traveling to the Magnolia state for the Hail State Classic, where they will play student-athletes from Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
"We've been working hard every day in practice and just getting better," Hiser said. "We have so many opportunities these next two weekends to grow and fight as a team. We really are working on having fun and competing for Alabama, and I'm excited to see how each girl does that these next two weekends and just having fun out there together."
In addition to looking forward to two more weekends of fall competition, Hiser and Orefice are looking forward to being part of Alabama women's tennis for the next four years and beyond.
"It's just amazing being here," Orefice said. "I'm looking forward to four years here and being able to play tennis and figure out what I want to do after graduation. I know I'll have the girls here as friends forever and coaches that I can rely on and look up to for the rest of my life."
Get all the latest information on Alabama women's tennis by following AlabamaWTN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
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