Chelsea Langevin – Senior reporter. After a four-day tournament in Mobile, Ala., the women’s tennis doubles team of senior Sallie Katter and sophomore Abby Olbrich earned All-American honors at the National Small College Championships on Oct. 18, placing fifth overall.
“This is the best result Linfield has had at a tournament,” Katter said.
The tournament took place at the Copeland Cox Tennis Center from Oct. 14-18 and featured Division II, Division III, NAIA and Junior College teams from across the nation.
In their first match against Tufts University, Katter and Olbrich fell short of a victory by one set, losing 3-4.
“We had a rough start, but we came back and competed,” Olbrich said.
For the rest of the tournament, Katter said she and Olbrich battled through the remaining matches, winning the back half of the draw.
The pair defeated a duo from Gustavus Adolphus College 6-4 and 7-6, then it beat an Emory University pair 2-6, 6-4 and 1-0 to claim fifth place in the tournament.
“I think we played defense really well, and when we were successful, we had a good mix of defense and offense,” Katter said.
Each of the eight teams in the draw for the tournament won its region in order to compete, but because Oregon’s region sent three teams instead of two, Katter and Olbrich had to win a play-in match in order to make the draw.
As part of tournament rules, the pair was only allowed to practice during the month preceding the event, Katter said.
Playing together only twice in September, they said they were impressed with how well they competed with the top teams in the nation.
“They were all super consistent,” Katter said.
Rather than see their results as a loss, the women said they view their tournament appearance as a personal victory for Linfield and as an opportunity to become stronger competitors.
“I wasn’t discouraged because [Tufts University] is the defending champion,” Olbrich said.
In 2007, Katter competed as a sophomore in the tournament, placing ninth, which she said makes this year a great accomplishment for Linfield.
The two attribute their success to their excellent communication.
“We move really well together on the court,” Katter said.
For the past two years, Olbrich and Katter have played as a doubles team. Although Olbrich may be younger, she does not require guidance when it comes to competition, Katter said.
“She’s very self-sufficient,” she said.
A natural athlete, Olbrich played soccer, basketball and tennis throughout high school. She said tennis was more of a hobby before college, but now it is her priority.
With seven years of tennis experience, Olbrich said she feels much more confident in her game than when she started.
While Katter boasts 15 years of experience in tennis, both women demonstrate equal levels of strength and professionalism.
The pair has an unspoken chemistry on the court, only speaking to each other in between games, Katter said. The rest is instinctive.
“It is an understanding of knowing what the other is going to do,” Olbrich said.
Friends on and off the court, Katter and Olbrich have the advantage of knowing how each other responds in high-stress situations.
Returning to Linfield with a record-setting score for the college, the women said they’re confident in their game and anticipate the spring season.
Katter said she’s excited for the season because she knows they can compete with the nation’s best.
“I feel like we’re on a roll, and I just want to keep playing,” Olbrich said.