Kiersten Pappas may only be a sophomore, but that has not stopped her from already gaining the attention of coaches across the Colonial Athletic Association.  Pappas was named to the All-CAA Third Team last year as a freshman in both singles and doubles play.  Pappas is one of the two components of the Dynamic Duo, as she and her doubles partner, senior captain Lindsay Gray , have compiled a 25-8 record since being teamed together last year.  Despite battling injury this year, Pappas has still posted double digit wins in singles and doubles, using a pace-changing style to thwart her opponents, particularly a devastating drop shot when charging the net.  Pappas, who goes by "KK" around her teammates and head coach Stephen Curtis , sat down with GoMason.com recently to discuss her season so far.

GoMason.com:   What sparked your interest in Mason?

Kiersten Pappas :   Well I definitely was drawn here for one, the coach.  And then when I came on my recruiting trip, the team, they were unlike any other team I had met.  They're very close to each other, there's no drama, and that's really appealing, especially for a women's tennis team, it's hard to find that.  I think just the chemistry between the coach and the team, everything was so great.  I knew as soon as I came here and visited I liked the campus,  I liked the girls,  so it really wasn't a hard decision at all.

GoMason.com:   How does Coach Curtis help you individually and the team as a whole?

Kiersten Pappas :   The team, he knows what he's talking about.  He knows tennis in and out, so it's really easy to listen to him.  You can see where he's going with everything.  He also communicates really well individually with what you need to do.  We're on the court, we're playing a match, he knows our strengths and our weaknesses and he knows what we can do in the match to win, so that's extremely helpful.

GoMason.com:   How did it feel to be named Third Team All-CAA as a freshman?

Kiersten Pappas :   I was really excited and I wasn't expecting it at all.  Coach didn't tell me anything, so when I got the award I was very excited about it.  It's kind of a dream come true to do that well as a freshman.

GoMason.com:   You won 17 games last year and 10 so far this year in singles play, what's the key to that success?

Kiersten Pappas :   I think you have to enjoy it for one.  Last year I wasn't used to playing so much because in high school I didn't have a lot of places to go.  My dad was my coach, so I didn't play that much, but coming in as a freshman and playing everyday, you have to make sure you don't get burnout.  So the love of the game is number one I think to go out there and just love being on the court and being able to be calm and not feel pressure or anything, which I didn't so it was nice.  The summer before my freshman year I hit with the assistant coach a lot and then this past summer I did that as well.  That's what you have to do training wise in the summer, you really just can't throw down your racket and not do anything.  That's going to hurt you when you come in, especially with us, we come in, we work out really hard with hitting and off the court workouts, so you really have to keep shape in the offseason.

GoMason.com:   You've been battling injury throughout the year.  Have you changed your approach or technique, or are you just trying to battle through it?

Kiersten Pappas :   I'm honestly trying to battle through it, I'm not used to injuries.  I didn't get them in high school, so coming in I had a hand injury in the fall and then now I have a shoulder injury, it's really hurting my game.  I don't like changing my game around.  I know coach wants me to cut back on hitting my first serve all out, but that's not how I play, so I just battle through it.  Hopefully once these matches, once the season is over, I can really focus on rehabbing it.

GoMason.com:   You're 25-8 in doubles with Lindsay Gray as your partner, how do you both have such great chemistry?

Kiersten Pappas :   It's actually funny because my freshman year I was playing with Ali (Alison Wingo ) and we were rooming together and so we spent a lot of time together, we were finally like, “Alright, something needs to happen.”  So we changed doubles partners and I ended up with Lindsay and I love Lindsay's game so it's really nice for us to get on the court.  We complement each other so well because she has that really solid ground strokes, she has a good serve, so it sets me up at the net and I have a little bit more variety for her so we just complement each other really well on the court.

GoMason.com:   How do you feel your class has impacted the program? (Pappas, Alison Wingo , and Andy Londen )

Kiersten Pappas :   Oh I think it's huge, I really do.  Us coming in and then also doing so well last year really drew in a lot of the recruits that we're going to get.  I think it was a huge step forward in Mason tennis.

GoMason.com:   Do you see your role as a leader evolving as your tenure continues?

Kiersten Pappas :   Yeah I would hope so, especially for next year.  Lindsay's going to be gone and she's a huge leader for us.  She's someone to look up to, she's a fighter on the court, really knows how to pump us up.  I'm hoping I can be someone like her next year with her being gone or at least try to step up more and be a leader.

GoMason.com:   What is your favorite memory here at Mason either on or off the court?

Kiersten Pappas :   Well I'd have to say spring break, going away being together for that week, always great memories.  Last years and especially this years, I think we had a great time.  We played really well, all the teams we played, so on and off the court it was great memories.

The team is 18-11 overall on the season.  They take on Drexel in Philadelphia Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.