Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2016

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star-struck when working with
high-profile competitors such
as Venus Williams and An-
gelique Kerber. During their
training, they learn the rules
of etiquette concerning how to
approach the players. Volun-
teers aren’t allowed to ask for
autographs when they are in
uniform.
“Everybody’s on their Ps
and Qs,” said Felicia. “They
don’t bother the players.”
Sophie agreed that it can be tough to act professionally
the whole time, but she said it’s worth it.
“As ball crew, we gain something more than just a signa-
ture. We get to be on the court with them,” she commented.
She would encourage anyone thinking about trying out
for the ball crew to go for it – as long as they love tennis.
“You watch a lot of tennis throughout the day. It’s dif-
ferent when you’re watching from the stands. It’s a whole
new experience,” she said.
Sophie will be meeting up
with old friends on the ball
crew this April, and her sister
Olivia, 12, will be returning
for her second year, too.
What kind of person
would be a good fit for the
ball crew?
“Somebody who’s focused
and polite,” said Felicia. “You
don’t necessarily need to be
athletic or play tennis.”
You can start at age 10 if you play tennis or age 12 if
you don’t because you wouldn’t be as familiar with the
game. While the ball crew consists of mostly kids and
teens, adults are welcome to try out as well. Felicia said
they’ve had volunteers up to the age of 60.
To learn more or to apply to be a part of the ball crew, visit
and click on Volunteer, or call
Danny Hayes at 850-980-1308. The Volvo Car Open will
take place from April 2 through April 10 on Daniel Island.
VolVo Car open
The Family Circle Cup is now the Volvo Car Open .
Volvo Car, USA reached an agreement last year with
the Meredith Corporation, the media company
that owns popular magazine titles including Family
Circle, Shape and Better Homes and Gardens, to
become the title sponsor of the tennis tournament.
The new sponsorship and name change, which was
announced in August, came a few months after the
news that the Swedish automaker plans to open
its first American plant in South Carolina. The plant
will be located in northwestern Berkeley County
near Ridgeville and is expected to create 2,000 jobs
within the next decade.
Volvo Car, USA has a three-year contract for the title
sponsorship of the Women’s Tennis Association’s
premier event. Nothing else about the women’s
only tennis tournament, which began in 1973
and has been held on Daniel Island since 2001, is
expected to change.