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04/26/2018 12:00 AMThrough the last few seasons, Tori Adamczyk has been climbing the ladder on the Valley Regional girls’ tennis team. Originally a sub for the No. 2 doubles position, Tori is now being counted on to play the No. 3 singles spot for the Warriors this spring.
Tori, a junior, feels good about her move to No. 3 singles, because it puts more responsibility on her, win or lose. Tori enjoys being part of the team, but the fact that she has to rely upon herself gives her that extra drive to play her best.
“This year, I started playing singles. I enjoy it more than doubles. I like having to push myself. I like the running. It’s definitely more intense and active than doubles,” says Tori. “I like sports that are more than just myself. Obviously, it’s still a team, but I like singles.”
One of Tori’s biggest strengths is that she can keep a volley going for quite a while. Tori is quick and has plenty of stamina due to hobbies like yoga, rock climbing, hiking, and walking her dog.
“I’m very consistent. I can keep the ball going for a really long time. I have long reach, because I’m pretty tall at 5 foot-9, and I can really run for the balls,” Tori says. “I enjoy rock climbing, and I do a lot of hot yoga. I really enjoy the outdoors. I love my dog, walking my dog, and being outdoors and hiking. We have the Bushy Hill big trails in our backyard. I can hike right from there.”
From playing a steady game, Tori gets a lot of her wins by baiting her opponents into making unforced errors. Tori tries to find the balance between playing aggressively and conservatively, while using her consistency to outlast her adversaries.
“I like to be defensive and offensive,” Tori says. “I’m good defensively, because I’m consistent. I try to keep hitting until they mess up most of the time.”
Tori always stays positive when she’s on the court. By being positive and having fun out there, Tori is able to play with less pressure on her shoulders, and that helps lead to wins in the long run.
“I focus on staying positive. I’m not the most competitive person on the court, but I’m very positive,” says Tori, a Deep River resident. “I try not to focus only on winning, but on having fun, too. I think that keeps me composed throughout the game.”
New Valley Regional girls’ tennis Head Coach Sally Riggio is seeing Tori’s composure firsthand this season. Riggio loves the effort that Tori brings to the squad, as well as every other aspect of her life.
“Tori gives 100-percent effort every time all the time, whether it’s conditioning, practice, or matches. Her ability to focus on the task at hand is a sign of maturity rarely seen at this age. She is just as dedicated off the courts to her studies and volunteering in the local community,” Coach Riggio says. “She is the quiet calm on our team...Tori is very eager to continue to develop her tennis game. It gives me great joy when I see her smile knowing she has played a great match...She is a delightful young lady, well-respected, and valued as a player and teammate.”
Outside of athletics, Tori was recently inducted into the National Honor Society for her academic achievements and volunteer work. Tori is in the Interact Club, which focuses on developing leadership skills in kids.
“Last week, we had our inducting ceremony. It means that you’re working hard and focused on your grades and being a good role model for other students,” says Tori. “Volunteering is part of it, too, and I’m part of the Interact Club. It’s a national volunteer service club. We do all sorts of community and volunteer things.”
Looking to her future, Tori is aiming to continue improving her tennis game by practicing in the offseason. As of late, Tori has been working hard on her serve and her footwork.
“I have been taking lessons at the Madison Racquet Club for a while. I’ve been taking lessons since I started playing tennis there, and they’re really great. I just focus on improving my weaknesses,” Tori says. “I’m looking at my serves a lot and my footwork. I need to get a stronger serve. It’s more form and not bending my wrist. I have to move forward into the ball and toss correctly. And my footwork, I just need to be taking more steps and taking longer steps.”