Junior Player Spotlight: Lola Dangin, Ross School Tennis Center

One thing that is important at any school or tennis academy is that the students and players there feel comfortable. More integral than anything else is creating a welcoming environment that allows those within it to flourish.

And that is what Lola Dangin has found at The Ross School Tennis Center, the top-tier private school which is also combined with an elite tennis training center in the idyllic setting of the Hamptons.

Born in New York City, Dangin moved to the East End when she was just two-years-old, and has since lived in Amagansett, a short drive from the East Hampton-located Ross School.

“The coaches here are amazing, and since I have been here for so long, it all feels like family,” said Dangin. “We all have such a good connection, and that really helps.”

Dangin began her tennis journey when she arrived in the Hamptons as a toddler. Tennis was always her main focus, and she has fond memories of her early tennis days, being able to go on court during the U.S. Open as part of a Net Generation clinic, and traveling down to Florida to play in a tournament.

Despite playing other sports such as soccer, gymnastics, dance and softball, tennis was the sport that stood out to Dangin, even from a young age, a passion that continues to this day.

“I played softball for a lot of my life and did again last spring, but this year I am going to focus primarily on tennis,” she said.

That focus means training five days a week, more if she isn’t playing any tournaments on the weekend. Her goal this summer was to try to play a tournament every other weekend to continue to put her training to the test and attempt to improve her UTR.

Dangin trains primarily with Vinicius Carmo, the Ross School’s Director of Tennis, and because she attends school at the same place where she does her tennis training, she is able to maintain a balanced schedule that allows her to thrive on the court and in her academics.

“During the school year I go to school for a full day and then come to the after-school program for a couple of hours. I can then either stay here and do my homework,  or do it when I get home,” she said. “I don’t lose a lot of time by having to travel from school to practice where I have to do my work in the car or something like that, and rushing to get home, so it creates a really nice balance.”

Dangin possesses a big forehand that she uses to control points from the baseline. In her training now, Dangin and Carmo have placed an emphasis on improving her second serve and making that shot more consistent, something they are working on during her sessions. In addition, she is eager to become a more aggressive player by coming to the net, and is training hard to be comfortable up there to finish off points.

“I have been working with Lola since she was three,” said Carmo. “She is always super focused and dedicated to the sport; Lola always comes ready and willing to improve. I love her loyalty to our program and the coaches here. It makes us give our 100 percent to help her every day.”

All of that preparation now leads into the high school tennis season this fall, where she aims to build on what was a successful season last year. As an eighth-grader, Dangin won the Suffolk County Division IV singles title, while also finishing in third place in the county championships to qualify for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) tournament.

Her Ross School team also reached the Suffolk County Small School final before losing a heartbreaking match to Bayport-Blue Point. This season, Dangin hopes to lead her team at least one step further.

“As a team, we’re really excited and motivated. It’s a great group of girls and we’re confident about what we can do,” said Dangin. “Last year was a really cool experience. My team was so supportive, and there were a lot of older girls who welcomed me in. Being able to travel with the girls was a nice experience, and its great having people cheering for you and having your team behind you.”

That support system is something that really helps, and Dangin has been fortunate enough to have it in both her private tennis training as well as with the school team. She has made so many friends through tennis, and since they understand what she goes through as a high-level tennis player, Dangin can lean on them.

“I’ve known Vinicius’ family since I was little, and a lot of my friends I know through tennis. Whether I am seeing them at tournaments, or training with them here at Ross, it’s nice having people that I can relate to,” said Dangin.

When she isn’t playing tennis, Dangin enjoys spending time at the beach or walking through town with her friends. She has taken an interest in photography as a hobby and is taking it as an elective in school.

“I want to expand my interests, and Ross is really great with allowing us to choose from so many electives here, in addition to tennis,” she said.

As we approach the end of summer, Dangin is set to begin her freshman year of high school, with the goal of returning to the New York State Championships. With her feeling right at home at The Ross School, and an ideal support system behind her, Dangin’s future in tennis remains extremely bright. She has goals of becoming a high-level college player, and while she has a couple of years before that, she is excited to continue taking strides to get closer to that goal.

“Lola has always looked to develop her strokes, even if it meant not doing well in a tournament,” Carmo added. “She is mature enough to realize that she needs to play her best tennis later in life and developing her strokes and game plans are more important right now.”