In April, University Photographer Cary Edmondson and I teamed up for one of the coolest assignments I've ever been a part of (and that's saying something, because prior to my role as a writer here at CSU Stanislaus, I worked for three years as a sports reporter covering some pretty interesting stories).

As a former high school and college tennis player, talking and watching tennis and getting paid to do so almost made me feel like I was stealing money from the great state of California — almost. Anyways, what follows are some interesting and funny stories from the day Cary and I spent following Preikschas and her teammates.

• After Preikschas and the Warriors defeated Cal Poly Pomona 5-4, the team's players went back to their respective houses and dorm rooms to shower and prep for their trip to Southern California for the Ojai Tournament and preceding team meal at Chipotle in Turlock. While waiting in front of the Village dorms for coach Verek Visaraga to pick them up in the team van, the victorious Warriors had some time to catch their breath and recount the day, along with their supportive boyfriends. Well, all but Preikschas, whose significant other Matt Boga was joshing here quite well about her 6-2, 6-1 win over Pomona's Jackie Trendt.

"I thought you'd do much better," he ribbed. "Sometimes I just think you need to step it up a notch."

Talk about demanding. Even a perfect season wasn't perfect.

• Cal State Stanislaus tennis coach Verek Visaraga has been coaching in the region for quite some time now. Before he was tabbed the as the man to restore Warrior tennis after it was eliminated from the program following the 1991 season, he had worked as a club pro at Brenda Athletic Clubs and coached Turlock High's tennis teams.

But according to Preikschas, one of the main reasons Visaraga gets her respect isn't because of his accomplishements, but because he holds off on the doughnuts, so to speak.

"Verek is a good coach because he's still really good," Preikschas says while munching on pre-match bagels with teammate Vanessa Reibstein at the campus dining hall. "He's not old and fatty. The guy can still play."

 ***A quick update****: Since the photo essay was polished off for the magazine, Preikschas has earned quite a few honors, including California Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player. She was also named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's All-America Team. Her perfect singles record (10-0) in CCAA play was also a reason for her being named the 2009 Cal State Stanislaus Female Athlete of the Year. The Warriors posted a 10-4 record for the season and finished second in the conference with a 7-3 mark. The Warriors made the postseason, ultimately falling to BYU Hawaii — Division II's top-ranked team that went 27-1 — in the NCAA DII West Regional Tournament.