March 31, 2010

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Senior Carolina Bello and her Spartan teammates have just three matches remaining this season. The women's tennis team begins its three-match homestand when they host Stetson on Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. at the USC Upstate Tennis Complex.

Bello and her teammates have won seven of their last nine matches and own a season mark of 11-3 overall and sit 5-2 in conference play.

Prior to arriving at Upstate, Bello played as a sophomore at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn. The team finished the season ranked 21st in the nation and Bello was a member of the All-TransSouth Conference Second Team at No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles.

Bello recently sat down with Alex Edwards of upstatespartans.com to discuss her time in Spartanburg as well as plans for the future.

With just three matches remaining in the season, all of which are conference matches, what are the team's goals over the final few weeks of the season?
Our main goal, as it has been all season long, is to give it our all at each and every match. We also strive to improve each and every match that we play.

What attracted you to Upstate from your previous school, Bethel College?
Upstate is a larger school and I really enjoy the coaching staff here, so those were the biggest factors for me. Also the people here are really nice, so that has made it an enjoyable experience as well.

With this being your final season as a Spartan, what are your plans after graduation?
To be honest, I haven't really thought much about that. I will try to find a job when I am finished with classes in May, but like I said beyond that I am not really sure.

Which do you enjoy more, singles or doubles?
I like both, but if I had to choose just one to play, I would have to go with singles.

What has been your most memorable moment at USC Upstate? Why?
There are a lot of memorable moments for me. Last season, probably sticks out in my mind the most. We had a good year and just being part of the team has been a wonderful experience for me.

Who was your hero growing up and why?
Growing up I looked up to Martina Hingis. I loved to watch her play when I was little and I always tried to keep up with how she did in various tournaments.

What is the biggest difference between living in your home country of Columbia and the United States?
The biggest difference to me is the food. I miss the meals that I used to get back home, because obviously I can't get them here. But other than that, I love being here and my team is like my family.

Who is your favorite professional tennis player?
I absolutely love Rafel Nadal, he is definitely my favorite!

Are there any sports besides tennis that you enjoy watching or playing?
I enjoy watching basketball when I am not studying or playing tennis.

If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
Since I was little, I have always wanted to travel to Spain, so that would be my first choice of destinations to visit.