Inside the game with Robin Guier

Robin Guier knows the end is near.

How it came so soon she still can’t piece together.

A senior on the UC Davis women’s tennis team, Guier will be playing in the final two matches of her home career this weekend. The Aggies will first host UC Irvine Saturday at 11 a.m. and then Cal State Fullerton Sunday at 10 a.m.

Leading up to the two-match set at the Marya Welch Tennis Center, Aggie Sports Editor MICHAEL GEHLKEN sat down with Guier to discuss the team’s early success in conference play, why she chose to attend UC Davis and the unwritten code of conduct for any fan looking to root on the Aggies this weekend.

In its first season as an official member, the team currently sits in fifth place in the nine-team Big West Conference with a 2-2 league record. How important is it for this team to have successfully established its place in the conference in just its first year?

With this being our first year, I think we’re establishing ourselves pretty darn well. I know in the past I felt like schools that we played didn’t take us quite as seriously, but this year we’re right up there. With Long Beach [State] our score was 1-6, but every match was close, and they win the Big West every year. This is our first year, but I feel like this year more than any other year we actually could win [the conference]. We just have such a strong team that I don’t think it’s out of the question at all, which is kind of cool.

I spoke with head coach Bill Maze on Wednesday, and he told me it felt like just yesterday he was driving you around on a golf cart, showing you the campus during your recruiting trip. Is it surreal for you, too, that the team’s current homestand will be your last?

Yeah, I didn’t even realize that this weekend was the last time we’re playing at home, and I just cannot believe how fast it’s gone. It scares me because I hope the rest of life doesn’t go as fast as this has [laughs].It’s been so fun and I’m going to miss everybody. It’s weird because my whole life I’ve thought about playing tennis, and I always wanted to play in college. Now it’s all ending and I don’t know what I’m going to do now. It’s gone by way too fast.

Ultimately, why did you choose to attend UC Davis?

It’s funny because I grew up in Napa for most of my life – I moved when I was like 15. I had never been here, but I just knew how close Davis was, and so I thought, Oh, I don’t really want to go there. I want to go somewhere else. And then I remember the first time I came here and visited, and it was just so beautiful. The campus was beautiful. Everyone I talked to was so nice. The people here are just – everyone is nice. But you know, Bill is awesome. He was probably one of the main reasons I wanted to come here.

Do you have any hobbies you like to do other than tennis?

I really like wakeboarding. It’s probably my second most favorite thing besides tennis. And just hanging out with friends and family. I like dancing – I’m not good at it, but it’s fun [laughs].

You are one of two seniors on the team, the other being your roommate Kaitlin Callan. After being at each other’s side for four years, what’s it going to be like when the year is all said and done?

It’s going to be weird in a tennis aspect and as a friend. Not having that person who you have had all the time to talk to or play with – she’s probably the best friend I have up here. She’s moving back down to Southern California after she graduates, so it’s going to be really weird not having one of your closest friends here anymore, which kind of sucks. I’ve really enjoyed playing with her – she’s a fun girl. She’s always fun to have around. She’s kind of like the mother of the team. She’s in charge of a lot of stuff and takes care of everything – I’m not the best at that [laughs]. She’s always really organized, and I know she will be really missed by a lot of people.

This weekend there are two conference matches on tap. What do you tell any Aggie fans who are considering to attend?

I think they should come, for sure. For one reason, because it’s the last chance they are going to get this year to come out. Two, they are going to be really good matches. Irvine is a really tough school, but I think we have a chance against them this year. They were 1-6 with Long Beach also, and they split with all their matches as well, so I think that it’s going to be a really, really exciting match. Then Fullerton I think will be fun, too. And it’s nice weather. It’s fun to come out and just sit out there and get some sun, a good atmosphere and cheer for us. We like fans that cheer. I feel like a lot of times people come out there and they don’t know what to do. They just sit there and they’re kind of like, Uhh. But don’t be afraid to come out and be loud. We like that.

MICHAEL GEHLKEN can be reached at sports@californiaaggie.com. XXX