Oct. 11, 2007

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - When junior women's tennis player Anna Novo walks onto a tennis court, she focuses in on being her best at all times. Novo, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, has been nothing short of spectacular during the fall season. She has compiled a 17-0 combined record in both singles and doubles play thus far, winning singles and doubles titles at the USC Upstate Tournament and the Wolfpack Invitational. Novo has picked up where she left off last season after leading USC Upstate women's tennis to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time ever.

Recently, Novo sat down with Adam Walker of upstatespartans.com to talk about playing in Division I, her new doubles partner, and the Nintendo Wii gaming system.

US.com: How would you rate your fall performance so far?
Anna Novo: So far, it has been great. I have played really well. I practiced a lot during the summer in Venezuela and I didn't stop. That helped me a lot and I can see the results of that right now.

US.com: What is the biggest difference between playing in Division I and Division II?
AN: Right now, I cannot see much of a difference very much because we played against Wofford in a friendly match. In the tournament we played at N.C. State (Wolfpack Invitational), the level was much harder, but not as hard as when we played Armstrong (Atlantic State) last year. So, I think we all can do really well in Division I.

US.com: You have a new doubles partner, freshman Emilia Milovanovic. What has it been like playing with her?
AN: It's great to play with her because she is like a sponge. She gets everything that you tell her. I enjoy playing with her a lot and she's really funny and a nice girl. She likes to be here and likes to play tennis.

US.com: Almost everyone on the tennis team has been together for over two years now. What is it like playing with people you've known for a long time?
AN: I think that we're like sisters right now because we have been together for some time. This year is the first time we've had somebody new on the team in a while. We know each other's personality well and how we play. I see all of them as my sisters because we are all like family.

US.com: What is the interaction between the women's team and the men's team like?
AN: We get along really well. When we have time, we'll play together just for fun or hang out and go to eat together. It's a family just like my relationship with the girls.

US.com: Has there been any discussion of possibly playing mixed doubles tennis?
AN: We're trying to convince coach (Alesandro DeMarzo) because we really want to play mixed doubles. Sandy Franz (men's tennis player) really wants to play mixed doubles and we tried to find a mixed doubles tournament, but we have to convince coach to let us play.

US.com: Your hobby is playing the Nintendo Wii gaming system. What's your favorite game?
AN: Right now, I just play the Wii sports game that comes with it and I just played tennis part all day long. I haven't played in a while since tennis season started. The guys from the tennis team come to my apartment just to play the golf part of it.

US.com: If you were not playing tennis right now, what sport would you be playing?
AN: I really like to play everything. I like to surf. Maybe I would be doing gymnastics because my mom was a gymnast.

US.com: What would you like to do after you graduate from USC Upstate?
AN: I want to try to play professionally, but, if I can't, I would like to work on a master's degree and be an assistant coach or head coach of a tennis team.

US.com: What is the best part of being at USC Upstate?
AN: This is a great opportunity and I've really enjoyed it a lot. It's different being here than being in my country. I like being in class and playing tennis. I really like it here and, even though it is not a big city, you always find something to do. It is something different and I like that.