From Quebec, Canada to Thibodaux, Lady Colonel seniors Sandra Gloria, Catherine Gauthier and Virginie Villani have spent the past four years as teammates on the Nicholls tennis team. The trio, who all knew each other when they lived in Quebec, will play in their last collegiate match on April 4 in New Orleans. Their times on the Nicholls tennis courts have been good and bad.

The first two years the women played, the Lady Colonel tennis team consisted of six players and enjoyed much success.

But for the past two years, the team has been playing with just four experienced players and times on the court have been tough.

“Now we go into matches down 3-0, when we used to go into matches up 3-0,” Gauthier said.

But despite the tough times the past two seasons have brought, the group has remained positive.

“We had a couple of tough years, but we stayed together,” Gauthier said. “We didn’t let anything frustrate us and we stayed really close. It’s sad because the three of us are leaving.”

“It was a fun experience,” Gloria said. “I am going to remember this team because we spent a lot of time together. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other.”

First-year Lady Colonel tennis coach, Robert Flink said he was foutunate to have them on the team.

“Not only are they good tennis players, but they are good students and more importantly good people. I am lucky to have then on this team. As a coach it is nice to see not only how much they like each other, but how much they like Nicholls and the city of Thibodaux,” Flink said.

“Playing here has given us the opportunity to play tennis and go to school,” Villani said. “The level of competition here is very high, and I have gotten to travel and see the United States. I have also become fluent in English. My first language is French.”

Gauthier, 20, who will receive her degree in mass communication, with a double emphasis in broadcast journalism and public relation, plans to stay in the area for at least two more years.

Villani, 22, and Gloria, 20, both elementary education majors, plan to return to Quebec to teach after graduation.

With the three leaving, they showed concern for the future of the Lady Colonel tennis program.

“Who knows who is going to follow us and be on the team with Rachel (Wade),” Gauthier said. “That’s tough.”

“I just hope whoever plays here after us enjoys it as much as I did,” Villani said.