By JARROD POTTER
NARROWLY edged out of a national championship by New South Wales, Victoria’s Under-18 Pizzey Cup tennis team featured a Cranbourne South rising star – Jaide Collins.
The 16-year-old dynamo helped her side get to the final, but couldn’t knock off Angelique Svinos – putting up a good fight in the 4-6, 3-6 defeat.
“Final of the singles went well,” Collins said. “The girl I played, she’s ranked a lot higher than me, I think I played pretty well – she’s hard to play. Her efforts at the tournament earned her a place on the Australian merit team – a select group of the best 10 female tennis players at the competition.
Collins said above everything it was fantastic to be in the School Sports Victoria team and watch her team mates excel as well.
“It was good being able to support the team and was really different to what you usually play,” Collins said.
“It’s definitely good to play a lot of good players from around Australia and there’s a bit more pressure as you’re playing for your team mates.”
Collins currently plays pennant tennis for Eaglemont and finished up recently playing in the Victorian Premier League summer competition with Dendy Park.
