Sasha Postnikov finds joy in tennis once again

IOWA CITY — Sasha Postnikov's prep tennis career has included two schools, a season away and, now, hopefully a fantastic finish.

As the Iowa City West senior prepares for Monday's regional state qualifying tournament, tennis is again bringing her joy. Postnikov and fellow senior Marie Stier will be playing doubles in the Class 2A, Region 5 tournament, being hosted by West beginning at 9 a.m.

West and Linn-Mar are the two area schools hosting 2A regionals. Decorah is the lone Gazette-area school hosting in 1A.

All regional champions and runners-up qualify for the state meet, May 30-31. Class 1A teams will play at Byrnes Park in Waterloo with the 2A meet held at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City.

Postnikov has had a strong senior season for West, playing at No. 1 singles and combining with Stier at No. 1 doubles. The Trojans, under first-year coach Nina Marquardt, are ranked sixth in 2A as a team entering the postseason.

When Marquardt took the West job last November, she did not know if Postnikov would be a part of the team after not playing for West during her junior year.

"I honestly didn't know if Sasha would come out for tennis," Marquardt said. "However, I did have a hunch she would want to play her senior year."

Postnikov played her freshman season at Cedar Rapids Prairie, where she was at No. 1 singles and qualified for the state meet. After transferring to West for her sophomore year, she qualified for state in doubles. Then it came time for the start of her junior year and Postnikov made the decision not to go out for the team.

"Tennis wasn’t bringing me the joy it used to, and I knew I needed to take a step back and reconnect with the sport on my own terms," she said. "Over my year off, I focused on playing tennis for my own enjoyment.

"That time gave me space to grow and develop a healthier relationship with tennis. I became happier on and off the court, and when senior year rolled around, I felt ready and excited to compete for my team again."

She added that learning to handle adversity was also key.

"I credit my personal growth," Postnikov said. "I have internalized the belief that success goes beyond a score, which guides me in moments of tough losses."

Marquardt knew how much it would help the Trojans to have Postnikov in the lineup.

"Having Sasha at No. 1 definitely helps our depth," Marquardt said. "Her leadership and tournament experience has also been very helpful for other girls."

The decision to have Postnikov and Stier compete in doubles was a no-brainer for Marquardt.

"Having her play doubles in the postseason was a pretty easy choice," said the first-year West coach. “She’s an incredible doubles player. Sasha, like many athletes, functions best in a team and doubles is no different.

“Doubles also highlights a lot of her strengths: being aggressive, reactive at the net, setting up points, communicating with a partner."

For Postnikov, who will attend Texas A&M next year and play club tennis, her plan is to get as much enjoyment as possible out of her final month with the Trojans.

“As we head into Monday’s regional tournament, I am approaching it with confidence and trust in the work Marie and I have been putting in," she said. "My biggest goal this season was to make it one I can look back on with nothing but pride and joy. I already have so much gratitude for how far I’ve come and grown in this season alone."