NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Collegiate seniors Catherine “Cat” Sarris and Julianna Selig have been hitting the tennis courts together for six years. With a combined 18 years of tennis experience, the dynamic duo represents Collegiate as members of the school’s varsity tennis team which is currently ranked No. 1 in the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) Division II (as of Nov. 1, 2021).
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Under the leadership of Coach James Moskowitz (TCIS Coach of the Year), the team became Tidewater Conference of Independent School regular-season champions after defeating rival Norfolk Academy. The team’s accolades are many and they are vying for a state title in November.
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“I am so excited for the upcoming competition,” said Julianna. “I feel like our team is not only talented on court, but has a special bond that we haven’t had in past years which is translated through our achievements. I do feel pressure being No. 1, but each match on the lineup has the same value in contributing to our team’s success.”
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For Cat and Julianna, this season has been a stellar way to cap off their final year of tennis for the Mighty Oaks. The doubles duo were named to the TCIS First Team Doubles and TCIS All-Tournament Doubles. Cat earned a seat as TCIS Second Team Singles and Julianna earned a spot on the TCIS First Team Singles, TCIS All-Tournament Singles and was named TCIS Tournament MVP winning at No. 1 Singles. So, what’s the key to their magic?
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What do you love about your sport?
Cat: I love tennis because of how personal the sport is. Every player can have a different style of play, and no method is above the other. I also love how even though tennis is such an individual sport, there is still an emphasis on playing as a team.

Julianna: I love the sense of control that comes with being on the court. The different strategies and new approaches to each individual opponent excite me. The shift of momentum that can occur in the match is crazy, and I’ve learned the match is never really over until you are at the net shaking hands.

What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Cat: My goal as a tennis player is to be a solid rank for my team – a person in the lineup who they can always count on to secure tough matches in essential times.

Julianna: I really want to win states with my team this year. We have six seniors, and the team is extra close; we’ve had a great season so far and I feel like winning states would be the cherry on top for our senior year.

What is the biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Cat: The biggest challenge is the mental game. Due to how individual the sport is, once you are on the court, you mostly rely on yourself to win the match directly in front of you. However, I have found encouraging my teammates not only helps them better manage their match, but it acts as a stabilizer for me.

Julianna: The biggest challenge in my sport is the mental aspect of it. In tennis, a player’s mindset to remain calm and confident on court is just about as important as their execution of their shots. Playing on a team helps me not only from the vocal support across the courts but the feeling of playing for more than just myself.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
Cat: If you do not give a practice, a point, or a match your all, then you will always be left wondering what could have happened if you did.

Julianna: All I can do is my best. It creates a good mindset without implying any limitations in my ability to achieve success. I apply this advice not only to tennis but to academics and the rest of my life.

Do you have a saying or motto that you like to live by?
Cat: One saying that has stayed with me throughout the years was told to me by my very first coach, Jennifer Toomy. She always told me that “pressure is a privilege” and “it only comes to those who earn it.”

Julianna: I really like the saying, “everything happens for a reason.” It helps me put things into perspective that in the big scheme of things one bad test grade or a loss on court is okay. When I look back on events that had then felt like a burden or mishap, they ended up being a stepping stone for success in the future.

What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Cat: I enjoy playing the violin with the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra of Virginia.

Julianna: I love being outside and exploring new areas. I will often drive around Hampton Roads with my friends to find new local shops and communities to explore. I also love going to the beach to do water sports or walk around First Landing State Park.

Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Cat: A mistake that I often make while playing is becoming impatient. This happens when I try to finish a point too soon and leads to unnecessary errors. I overcome this by remembering rudimentary concepts such as staying loose and having big targets.

Julianna: The biggest mistake I have made while competing is accepting an outcome that has not yet happened. Instead of putting energy into staying out on the court longer or changing the momentum of the match, I accepted excuses for losing when the match wasn’t even over. I have now prioritized the way I think during matches, not about the result at the end but rather how I would approach the next point.

What advice would you have for someone looking to play your sport?
Cat: If I were to give advice to an aspiring player I would advise them to not rush through the basics. The early stages of learning to play are arguably the most important aspects of the game. Ultimately, having a solid foundation to build up your game is of the utmost importance.

Julianna: I would suggest patience and having the goal to have fun. I think tennis would be really hard to pick up after watching it on television or at a college level because the big draw is how hard and fast the ball is being hit. As a new player, I feel the urge would be to hit the ball as hard as you can, but the technique and grip on the racket needed will only come with a bit of time and practice.

Both of you have been playing tennis together for a while. What is the key to your success?
Cat: The key to our success is trust. I have known Julianna for over half my life and I know that her judgment both on and off the court is impeccable. Not only can I rely on her in the most stressful of situations, but our communication is a constant in our play. We are always strategizing on what to do next and how our styles can assist and compliment the other.

Julianna: Catherine and I have been friends since third grade and I feel like the friendship is reflected in the way we play. We not only know how one other functions on the court but also as a student and friend. One of my favorite things about playing doubles with Catherine is that we chose Chinese for our language in school, so some of our communication between points is in Chinese. We give each other a high five between every point, win or lose, which acts as reinforcement and a reset for both of us to remind each other we aren’t on the court alone. I like that someone can look at our court and not know if we had won or lost the previous point.

What would you like people to know about you personally or as a member of the team?
Cat: I would like people to know that playing tennis has not been solely about winning or losing matches, but it has been a passion for me for many reasons. It has offered me the opportunity to meet wonderful, lifelong friends. It has helped me develop into a stronger, more disciplined person. It also acted as a refuge for me during the pandemic since it was one of the safest activities that I could participate in when all else was closed.

Julianna: I really enjoy playing all sports, not just tennis. I have a lot of friends who play volleyball, so I’ve learned a bit from passing the ball with them on the beach. I also love playing a game of Horse, throwing a football around during free periods at school, or playing pickleball which I learned during quarantine. Sports are one of my favorite ways to pass time and stay active.

Julianna, your father also attended Norfolk Collegiate. What does it mean to you to attend the same school?
Julianna: It’s really funny to talk to him about how school has changed, we actually have a few teachers that have taught us both. I think it is so cool that he is still close with some of his high school classmates today, and I enjoy hearing about his experience at Norfolk Collegiate. I admire my father a lot. His determination, work ethic and character stand out to me, and I feel like going to the same school is a good start to begin developing those characteristics too.

What’s next for you?
Cat: After high school I hope to continue playing club tennis at the college I choose to attend; although, currently I am focusing on helping the Norfolk Collegiate team to states.

Julianna: I am focused on getting into college right now. The deadlines are approaching soon and the reality of this being my last year home is starting to kick in. I am also trying to make the most out of my senior year taking as many opportunities to spend time with my friends as possible.

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