Silencing the Critics

MacArthur's Davila fought rejection to put Big Mac tennis on the map

MacArthur's Davila fought rejection to put Big Mac tennis on the map
A player that Davila looks up to in the tennis world is Serna Williams.

Originally appeared on Vype

IN THE EARLY STAGES OF HER CAREER, ALYSSA DAVILA DEALT WITH A LOT OF REJECTION.

It came from college tennis coaches saying she needed more experience or that she didn't have what they were looking for. They even told her to look at a different avenues to play tennis.

"I remember a specific coach telling me to look at alternative choices such as playing outside of college, in separate leagues, etc. instead of pursuing a college tennis career," Davila said.

The MacArthur senior overcame all of the naysayers and will be attending University of St. Thomas in Houston next year as a part of its inaugural tennis team.

"She is the truest definition of what hard work, determination, excellence and passion for tennis can lead to," MacArthur tennis coach Brandon Blake said. "I know Alyssa will continue to thrive at the college level and she has set an example for the rest of MacArthur's tennis team that they too can play at the next level."

Since the University of St. Thomas is a Division III school, it doesn't offer athletic scholarships. However, Davila maintaining a Top 10-percent ranking in her graduating class has afforded her numerous academic scholarships.

Accomplishing all of this hasn't come without hard work, Davila said, which is how she was raised.

"A strong work ethic is actually ingrained in my blood with my grandparents on my father's side being immigrants from Mexico, who came to America to find a better life," Davila said. "And with my grandparents on my mother's side being migrant workers, who worked picking crops in fields. I recognize that my family has worked too hard for me to slack and not make something out of myself."


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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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