The nucleus is the powerhouse of the cell. In the world of UW-Whitewater women’s tennis, this year’s freshmen class holds the DNA necessary to build upon the program’s sustained dominance. 

The freshmen bring an electric tandem to their new-found home in Whitewater, described as, “a good nucleus for the next four years,” by head coach Frank Barnes. Hailing from four different cities, Ava Andrae from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Abby Weaver from Wakarusa, Indiana, Crystina Lee from Downers Grove, Illinois, and Priyanka Bhogaraju from Barrington, Illinois, the four of them make up the powerhouse of the freshmen tennis cell. 

Barnes attracted two of the freshmen, Ava Andrae and Abby Weaver, from two totally different cities. Four and a half hours apart, the two found common interest in the Warhawk tennis program. 

“As far as the out-of-state people, you want to make sure that if they’re coming this far and committing, that you really get to know them and they’re going to be happy out of state,” Barnes said.

Building a connection with incoming freshmen before they step foot on campus is always a must for Barnes and his staff. Barnes builds that connection by monitoring what his incoming players can offer to the team in the coming years. 

“I knew Abby pretty well because she had attended one of our summer camps early on. She was really energetic and friendly with everyone that I knew that was involved in the team at the camp as well,” Barnes said. “She fit very well as far as personality and I knew she was a good tournament player after seeing her in a tournament in Eau Claire her senior year.” 

As for Andrae, her journey to Whitewater looked different. Her recruiting process took little time, committing as a senior. For being in state, Andrae is an hour and a half away from home. So for Barnes, hearing her coaches and people he knew rave about her play gave him a sense of comfort and assurance. 

“Ava I had talked mostly through emails and phone calls. [She] had made her decision very quickly. I kind of knew right away that she would fit in,” Barnes discussed.

The upperclassmen also have their fair share of involvement. One of the only ways the rookies can excel on the court, in the classroom and in their personal lives is by development. Teammates and friends by your side to guide you. Ones that wore your shoes before you. The leader that stands out the most is senior Cassie Lee, whose sister Crystina Lee, followed in her shoes to UW-Whitewater. 

“I look up to Cassie the most. She is just a fighter,” Weaver said. 

Andrae also mentioned Cassie as someone she looks up to. She can see herself being in Cassie’s situation later on in her career. 

“I aspire to be like that; a role model,” Andrae added. 

Barnes also complimented the seniors’ leadership skills and their inclusion of the underclassmen. 

“Having a leader like Cassie has been great, especially to show [the freshmen] the ropes.” 

It’s not just Cassie that he praised. Seniors Gracie Ha and Sarah Ferguson have all been impactful. The senior captains wanted to ensure that the freshmen felt included and comfortable coming into a brand-new environment. All three prioritized team bonding. Barnes pointed out that the seniors did an excellent job in the preseason of including the underclassmen and making a very “inclusive environment.” 

“The team was always together. We would train together and then eat every meal together, and that was awesome,” Weaver described. 

Having upperclassmen’s personalities rub off onto the freshmen is great. But seeing shades of their excellence in the newcomers is something special to watch. As freshmen, Weaver and Andrae have opened many eyes. Before a lineup shake up, Weaver and Andrae played as No. 2 doubles partners, Weaver is also a starter in singles. A lot of that success comes down to comfort and seeing veteran leadership on and off the court. Feeling included and welcomed is instrumental for a locker room as it builds team chemistry. 

Coming in as freshmen and seeing the pure talent and aggressiveness they bring to the court displays peak entertainment. Stepping onto the court for the first time as doubles partners did not happen on Whitewater soil. An hour east, in Milwaukee, is where the two first saw each other on the court. Weaver and Andrae had talked over the phone but this tournament was the first time meeting in person. They paired up and thought, why not? Seeing their energy on the court with each other, Barnes saw something there. 

“Just seeing the energy and the way they clicked and attacked the net, which is really important in doubles, I thought, maybe we’ll try these two together. Then we did it in practice and it just clicked,” Barnes said. 

“We’re both very aggressive players,” Weaver said, “and usually two aggressives conflict sometimes. But for us, I feel like we are able to zone each other in when we play and we can just create good tennis.”

Andrae mentioned that despite not knowing Weaver previously, they hyped each other up, played their game, and showed good chemistry. Tennis is a sport where you are paired with someone and have to understand their game and adapt. It is a lot of time spent reacting on the fly. But the more you play with your partner, the more you pick up on their style of play – strengthening your bond. Something that Weaver picked up from Andrae is her passionate drive on the court.

“She’s very uplifting when I play with her. She always makes me laugh and she has extremely hard high fives. It’s just awesome having someone have that energy because I’m a highly energetic person, and so is she, so when we play together, it’s a ball of energy,” Weaver said. 

It’s easy for Andrae to bring that level of energy to the court when the two are succeeding, but they also need it when they are down. Weaver helped show Andrae there is always a purpose, and hard work leads you to success. 

“[Abby] never gives up. She keeps fighting, even in singles. [She] has a great mindset and I need that,” Andrae said. 

Coming into the 2024 campaign, Andrae and Weaver played singles in high school. Their aggressiveness comes from passion and drive for the game of tennis. When they step onto the court, they match the other’s energy. A switch flips and the duo falls back into action. 

“Doubles bring out the energy,” Andrae said. “Just having someone be there with you is special.”