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(DAILY_WILDCAT)

pacing the void

By Kristen Davis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 7, 1997

No pep talks needed

There is nothing that needs to be said to inspire the Arizona women's tennis team to beat UCLA this time around.

Just to be safe, though, junior Vicky Maes donned a blue "UCLA Tennis" hat during Wednesday's practice.

"I just wanted to get the team fired up and ready to play," said Maes, the fifth-ranked singles player in the nation.

The Bruins defeated Arizona in a 5-4 loss last month that left a sour taste in the Wildcats' mouth.

The match was tied at three points apiece when the doubles matches began. UCLA (6-3, 1-1) squeezed out the victory, winning two of the doubles matches.

The Wildcats (7-4 overall, 1-3 in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division) have beat the Bruins in Los Angeles the past two seasons and will look to extend that streak in Los Angeles at 1:30 p.m. on today.

They will wrap up the weekend with a noon meeting against Southern Cal tomorrow.

"I hate UCLA," UA junior Betsy Miringoff said. "Without a doubt, there's a huge rivalry between the teams."

Miringoff rejoined the team last month after not starting the season with the Wildcats. She was the No. 3 singles player for the team last season.

Prior to Miringoff's return, the Wildcats were 10-11 in doubles play. Since her return, Arizona has amassed a 9-7 doubles record over the last two weeks.

"It doesn't always come down to one match, but if it does then we'll be ready for it and deal with it," UA head coach Becky Bell said.

Arizona won its first Pac-10 victory when it topped Southern Cal, 7-2 last month.

The Wildcats are wary to overlook the Trojans (4-6, 0-2), who recently added a new player to their roster who is now eligible to play.

Jacqui Boyd, a freshman from South Africa, is considered a strong player who the Trojans are looking for a better outcome this weekend, according to USC head coach Richard Gallien.

"She's a very good competitor and adds a lot of depth to this team," Gallien said. "Without question we are the underdogs, but we hope the outcome is a bit closer this time."

"One person can make a big difference, as we know," Bell said, referring to the return of Miringoff. "So we really have to be ready to play solid two days in a row."


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