JON HELGASON

Sophomore tennis player Debbie Larocque hits a forehand during a practice Tuesday at the Robson Tennis Center. UA will play in the William and Mary Invitational this weekend.

Friday September 21, 2001

The UA women's tennis team opens its 2001 season this weekend when it travels to Williamsburg, Va., to compete in the ninth-annual William and Mary Invitational.

Arizona is looking to bounce back from a dismal 6-14 season in 2000-2001, the first time in 13 years that the team did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats will be among 14 Division I teams in the tournament, which includes four teams - Illinois, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth and Wake Forest - that were in last year's NCAA Tournament.

This season, UA head coach Brad Dancer will be without standout Michelle Gough, who graduated in May.

Dancer - in his third season at the helm of the Arizona program - said his focus for this tournament is to see how his team responds against other top players and programs in the nation.

"Some of the best teams in the nation will be competing," Dancer said. "This would be a great opportunity for our girls to go in there and show the coaching staff what they are made of."

Dancer said he is looking to sophomore Debbie Larocque and senior Laresa Marino to lead the way for UA this weekend.

Individually, Laroque is the No. 85 singles player in the country after posting a 23-16 record last season.

The sophomore will pair up with Marino for the second straight year as the Wildcats' No. 1 doubles team this year. The duo finished 12-14 last season and enter the season as the No. 13 ranked pair by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The Wildcats start the season with four freshmen - Maja Mlakar, Marie-Pier Pouliot, Danielle Stadelman and Daniela Torres.

Dancer said that Stadelman, who walked on this season, has proven that she is deserving of a top spot on the team.

"She is a great addition to the lineup," Dancer said. "She has challenged Larocque in her fitness training."