The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER completing a successful sophomore season at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, tennis player Sydney Clarke said there’s no better feeling than being back home.

She returned home this week after being named to the Conference USA All-Conference Singles Second Team. “We are all very happy for Sydney to get recognized by the conference,” said head coach Mark Tjia. “She has worked hard this season on being more disciplined, intentional and professional. Her play has reflected this, and she is very deserving of the recognition.”

Clarke, who earns her first C-USA postseason award, finished the 2022 season with team-highs 19 overall singles and 14 dual wins. Eight of her victories came at the Number 2 spot and six at Number 3.

In Conference USA play, she had a 4-2 record with wins against WKU, Southern Miss, LA Tech and Middle Tennessee. Additionally, she had match points on Charlotte, all at the No. 2 positions.

One of Clarke’s biggest wins was a straight set victory over Camila Romero from No. 55 ranked Memphis.

“This year was really hectic. It’s the first year we were not disrupted by Covid-19, so it was really nice,” Clarke said. “We got to play a lot more matches, so it was very challenging on and off the court and in the classroom. I really looked forward to that and I really embraced the challenges.

“I felt this year, my performances went very well. With each match I played, I improved tremendously. I’m thankful for each and every match I got. I was able to improve from the videos that I watched and the mental preparation I got; I was able to improve tremendously on the court.”

UAB ended its season 12-11 and advanced to the C-USA quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion No. 33 Old Dominion.

“Conference USA has so many great players and teams, so to be selected as one of the elite players in the conference is really a tremendous honor,” added Tjia.

While she was impressed with her overall performance, Clarke said she was just as thrilled about what the team accomplished and she’s eager to see how well she can improve for the Blazers when she returns in August for her junior year.

“I can’t wait to see how my junior year goes,” Clarke said. “I can’t wait to see how much improvement we will make. I know we will have the same team until I graduate, so I’m really excited about that.

“Now that we know each other, I think next year, coming back, we will be better than ever because we would have addressed those weaknesses and embrace them as well as maximizing our strength.”

While at home, the 20-year-old former top ranked junior national team player said she will continue to train and prepare to represent the Bahamas, especially on the Billie Jean King Fed Cup whenever it is played this summer.

“I’m very glad to be home because I have all of the resources to help me to be successful,” said Clarke, a former student of CR Walker Secondary High who graduated from Windsor High School and was a member of the Albany Tennis Academy.