Maes, Goldstein selected by committee to compete at NCAAs

Ian Meyer Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore Karen Goldstein (above) and teammate Vicky Maes were chosen to compete individually at the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Vicky Maes and sophomore Karen Goldstein were the UA players chosen by the national committee to compete individually.

Maes and senior Khristen Pietrucha are the lone UA doubles team represented in the 32-team field.

The individual and doubles tournaments will be played after the team championships, which begin May 15 in Palo Alto, Calif. on Stanford's campus.

UA senior Stephanie Sammaritano competed individually last season, but was not invited this year.

"We're maybe a little disappointed for Stephanie because she's a senior, but our primary goal was to get in directly as a team, so everyone is happy about that," Maes said.

Maes and Goldstein both made the individual bracket last year, with the Maes-Pietrucha doubles team going as well.

The 16-6 dual record Sammaritano compiled last season was enough to earn an individual bid, but her 14-8 dual match record this season was overlooked in the 64-player bracket.

"I'm disappointed, but throughout the year my main goal was to help the team get into nationals," Sammaritano said. "I'll just give 100 percent because I know that every match could be my last one."

Goldstein said that she views her first round loss at last year's tournament in Florida as a learning experience that she hopes will show in California.

"I feel like I know what to expect more this year competition-wise," she said. "Last time I was so nervous and didn't really play well."

Maes, who entered the tournament as the No. 1 player in the country last season is looking forward to playing with less expectations on her.

"I played well, but I felt so much pressure," said Maes, who is ranked fifth in the country this season. "This year I'm just playing to play."