The Elon University Phoenix women’s tennis team is holding to the mantra of better late than never. Just ask sophomore Frida Jansaker.

“We’ve had a way better season than last year, even though our record is the same,” she said. “I feel like we definitely have a stronger team this year, it’s just a matter of everyone stepping up at the right time and I feel like we’re peaking at the right moment.”

The Phoenix has played very tight matches going into the Southern Conference Tournament, which begins April 19, when Elon will take on 10th-seeded Wofford College in the opening match at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The Phoenix routed the Terriers 7-0 April 1.

“I’ve seen the team, especially in this past few weeks, really step up,” said head coach Elizabeth Anderson. “We’ve had our toughest competition towards the end, and we’ve had very close matches with them and had opportunities to beat them.”

One thing Jansaker pointed out was the difference in the match score in losses. Of the Phoenix’s five SoCon losses, four were by the score of 4-3, the lone exception a 5-2 loss to UNC-Greensboro April 10.

Sophomore Jordan Johnston likes what she has seen from those close losses.

“It shows a lot of growth that we’ve had, especially in the past year,” she said. “We’re actually putting ourselves in the position to win matches, which is really a big deal. Success doesn’t come overnight, and it’s definitely been a process, but we’re obviously going in the right direction, and we can only get better with the team that we have and the team we’re going to get.”

One of the keys for the Phoenix is the play of Jansaker and Johnston, especially at the top doubles pair. The team had a 19-2 record during the regular season, giving them the top SoCon doubles record. Anderson points out how well the two play together and the consistency they bring as singles and doubles players.

“You know what you’re getting out of them each given day,” she said. “And even if they’re having a bad day, you know they’re going to fight through it and they’re going to make the most of it and find a way to win, even if it’s not pretty. And I think that there’s a lot to be said for that, and they set a really good example for the rest of the girls to follow.”

Both rank near the top of the SoCon in their singles winning percentages. Johnston has been victorious in 65 percent of her matches, fourth-best at No. 1 singles, while Jansaker has won 80 percent of her matches while playing at several different positions.

“The biggest thing for us is to get out there and get the win towards the doubles point and try to have the team look up to us and say, ‘Hey, if they’re doing well, we can do well too,’” Johnston said. “Just pick everyone up. That’s what we want to do."

But the Phoenix will need effort from all over the roster for a victory. Anderson said she still wanted better play in what she called “critical points,” but she has confidence in her team.

“The tournament presents a great opportunity for us, and I know this team wants it really bad,” she said. “We’re willing to do what it takes to win those matches, and I think we’ve had our share of close-enough wins that it makes you even hungrier to win it.”

Jansaker said she feels the Phoenix will be especially strong because of the consecutive nature of the tournament.

“We have a good, strong team, good conditioning,” she said. “Especially in the tournament, it all depends on what team is the strongest and can play consecutive matches strong. I feel like this is our time and we can turn those 4-3 losses into 4-3 or 5-2 wins.”

Anderson fully expects a victory, riding the confidence of those close matches and a heavy dose of healthy optimism in hopes of a conference championship to bring home to Elon.

“If you’re coming in hot at the right time, you can achieve it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what seed you are in the conference tournament, you have the opportunity to play anybody and everybody. We just want to take it all, and we’re not going to be satisfied with anything else.”

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Women’s Tennis Fast Facts

Record: 15-8 (overall), 5-5 (conference)

Home: 10-3

Away: 4-5

Neutral: 1-0

Singles

Frida Jansaker: 16-4

Viviana Stavreva: 15-6

Maria Camara Ruiz: 13-6

Jordan Johnston: 13-7

Barbora Lazarova: 11-11

Doubles

Frida Jansaker/Jordan Johnston: 19-2

Briana Berne/Maria Camara Ruiz: 11-5

Katy Canada/Kaylyn Smialek: 3-0

Briana Berne/Viviana Stavevra: 3-2

Maria Camara Ruiz/Barbora Lazarova: 3-3 [/box]