Meet Milena Chrzanowska of Poland, Sandra Rattkayova of Slovakia and Gaby Saveneviciute of Lithuania. All three are freshmen doubles players in their first varsity season for the Blue Waves. Another player, Kamila Krupa of Poland, plays for the junior varsity team.
The European imports are no strangers to tennis or the United States. "We're assimilated now," said Saveneviciute.
What brought them and their families to this country is something else they share. "The opportunity," Rattkayova said. "There is something you can reach for."
A better education, a better future, a better life. And if tennis makes their adjustment to American life that much more enjoyable, so much the better. Rattkayova noted that in the United States she has access to quality coaching and sports equipment that is afforded only to elite athletes in her native Slovakia.
"In the United States, everything is easier than in Poland," said Chrzanowska, who keeps a foot in both worlds, returning to Poland in the summer time.
The three Riverhead varsity players, none of whom are exchange students, have been living in the United States for at least several years. Rattkayova has been here the longest; this is her sixth year. As with the others, Rattkayova noted that it wasn't easy picking up the language and adapting to living on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, but she figured she had at least one advantage as a third-grader upon her arrival. "When you're a kid, things come much easier to you," she said.
Certainly, they miss relatives, friends and, yes, even food. After apologizing in advance for being critical of American cuisine, Rattkayova said: "Here everything is artificial. At home, everything is more natural."
Although he hasn't had much chance to know his foreign players well, Blue Waves Coach Jerry Duvall has noticed a difference between their approach to tennis and that of his American players.
"They're more focused," he said. "They're pretty focused on playing tennis to win. They want to win. They really approach it [like], 'What do I need to do to get better?' If they lose, [they say], 'I want a rematch.' I guess American kids sometimes are more laidback."
Saveneviciute can't argue that. When Saveneviciute said during an interview that she is a competitor, Rattkayova interjected, "Underline that," as a reporter scribbled in his notebook.
"But I have fun, too," Saveneviciute countered. "I guess that's important, too."
The three Europeans undoubtedly enjoyed themselves last Thursday when they registered their first career varsity wins in a 6-1 victory over the Hampton Bays Baymen in a Suffolk County League VIII match. It was Riverhead's first win from two league matches this season. Rattkayova and Saveneviciute beat juniors Liz Ouellette and Elaina Warner, 6-2, 6-4, in second doubles. "We're a good team, I guess," said Saveneviciute, who described herself as more of a snowboarding person, more in keeping with the colder Lithuanian climate.
Meanwhile, Chrzanowska and her third doubles partner, freshman Kayla Lessard, were 6-1, 6-3 winners over freshmen Allysa Sardone and Lulu Zhou.
Riverhead's sweep of the doubles matches included a 6-2, 6-4 victory by Liz Morrison and Briana Ristau over Hope Broman and Abby Kraycar in first doubles.
The singles lineup for the Blue Waves remains the same for the second year in a row, with juniors Alex Markel, Gabi Misiano and Mia McCombe all in their third varsity season. Misiano and McCombe were two-set winners in their matches. Misiano stopped Maegan Johnson, 6-2, 6-3, at second singles, and McCombe beat her opponent at third singles, Davi Romer, 6-0, 6-1. Jordan Barnard brought Riverhead a point at fourth singles, with a 6-1, 6-2 result against Wini Deckers.
The only point for the Baymen, whose overall and league record dropped to 0-3 with the loss, was in first singles. Tarrin Joslin defeated Markel, 6-2, 6-1.
Chrzanowska said her experience in America has been a good one, and she left no doubt about her feelings regarding tennis. "I love it," she said. "It's everything to me."
Having fellow Europeans on the team has undoubtedly made their transition to American life easier. Said Saveneviciute, "You don't feel so alone."