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(DAILY_WILDCAT)

pacing the void

By Kristen Davis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
May 7, 1997

Tennis balances practice, books

The UA women's tennis team may have more than a week before the big show of collegiate tennis begins, but the break is no excuse to kick back and relax.

In fact, the team is busier than ever, trying to cram in practices and preparation for final exams into its schedule.

The12th-ranked Wildcats are leaving for Palo Alto, Calif., the site of this year's edition of the NCAA Championships, early next week.

The Wildcats have been forced to negotiate earlier exam dates with their professors.

The extra things that have been added to their days, however, have not affected their practices.

"I think practice has gone really well," junior Vicky Maes said. "Our spirits are really up right now."

The players are still feeling a sigh of relief after pulling out two upset victories over Texas and Arizona State that helped them earn one of the 10 automatic bids into nationals.

"We needed a couple of wins to give us more confidence," Maes said.

The team tournament begins next Thursday on Stanford's campus. The regional competition, which will determine the additional six teams that advance to the championships, starts on Friday.

Arizona will not find out which team it will match up with until the regional tournament concludes on Sunday and the NCAA committee drafts the brackets.

The Wildcats beat Mississippi in the opening round of the championships last year in Florida, but fell to UCLA in the second round.

Arizona, which finished the season with an overall record of 14-8, is anticipating an exciting week ahead.

"I really can't wait to get there (Palo Alto)," Maes said. "Stanford's stadium is nice and I can't wait until the (tournament) draw on Monday."

The individual and doubles tournaments start a few days after the team competition begins.

Sophomore Karen Goldstein and Maes were selected into the singles field and senior Khristen Pietrucha and Maes were the solo doubles team competing.

Senior Stephanie Sammaritano qualified for singles last year, but was snubbed in her final season. Sammaritano was overlooked in the doubles bracket with her partner as well, although it was not as great a surprise.

She and Goldstein were alternates at NCAAs last season, but were not called into action because none of the pairs withdrew or got injured.

Sammaritano said UA head coach Becky Bell told the pair that there is a chance they will be named alternates this season, although the chance they will play is slim.

"All the girls are really ready for championships, so alternates don't get in very much," Sammaritano said.

Sammaritano can, however, count on helping Arizona in the team competition, something Maes said is more exciting anyway.

"The team tournament is different because everyone is there competing," she said. "It's much more exciting because everyone is involved."


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