By
Dan Komyati
Arizona Daily Wildcat
The No. 24 UA women's tennis team will likely be without two is top players Sunday against Northern Arizona University at 2 p.m. at Robson Tennis Center.
Junior Lindsey Blau is on indefinite leave for personal reasons. Blau, who teams with Michelle Gough to form the No. 1 doubles squad, missed last weekend's match due to a coach's decision.
Gough, also the team's No. 1 singles player, will be in Dallas for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Gough earned a berth in the 32-player field after advancing to the finals of the Region VIII tournament last fall. Should Gough go deep into the tournament she will be forced to miss UA's dual meet.
UA head coach Brad Dancer said he feels confident that his team has rebounded after two tough early-season matches last weekend at USC and UCLA.
"We've had two great weeks of practices," Dancer said. "I hate to make excuses, but we've been playing with a depleted squad due to illnesses and injuries. I look forward to playing (USC and UCLA) again when we're completely healthy."
The Lumberjacks (1-3) have struggled in their early season, but Dancer said the team is well-coached.
"This will give us some good match experience," he said.
The youth of the Wildcats (0-2 overall, 0-2 Pac-10 Conference) will be tested against the Lumberjacks with several inexperienced players seeing increased action due to the shortened roster. Freshman Debbie Larocque will likely replace Gough in the team's No. 1 slot.
