By Michael Isaac Jacobs Arizona Daily Wildcat May 5, 1998 Seniors to remember Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior tennis players Betsy Miringoff (left) and Vicky Maes rock out on the tennis court. Both women are graduating and leaving the University of Arizona tennis team. When UA seniors Vicky Maes and Betsy Miringoff walk away from the hard courts of college tennis for the last time, they will leave behind a distinct tale of two tennis players. "Vicky and I are definitely different people. She came in as a 20-year-old from Belgium and I came in as an 18-year old from San Diego, who was homesick all of her first semester," Miringoff said. "But, I couldn't have asked for a better teammate." Maes recalls the four-year ride with her senior partner as educational, but bumpy. "It's been four years, but it's gone by real fast," Maes said. "But we've both grown up a lot, and have had our differences, because being with someone for four years will always create differences." Minor differences are easily swept aside by a multitude of everlasting memories. Maes and Miringoff were here when the Wildcats were No. 3 in the country (1996), Maes herself was once ranked as the top player in the country - the first and only UA women's tennis player to reach such status- and the two embarked on many road trips that yielded memorable conversations. "I remember a lot of things, like beating UCLA on the road freshman year, interesting conversations with Vicky on the van rides when we played on the road, and even losing to Stanford 5-4 at 11:00 p.m. one night," Miringoff, the team's No. 2 player, said. For Maes, the ascent to No. 1 in the country was an "awesome feeling because no one has ever been No. 1 at Arizona," but there were some drawbacks. "When I was ranked No. 1 in the country, I knew everyone was out to get me," Maes said. "But playing No. 1 for the team has been a real honor and a big responsibility, because you have to be sort of a role model to the whole team." However, the more pertinent goals for Maes are team-oriented. "But, I've never really cared about rankings, because that year we broke a lot of team records and that's what is more important for me," she said. Personal rankings have graced Maes, but so has praise from those in the tennis world. "She's the best player that has ever come through the UA," UA head coach Stephanie London said. "In a coach's eyes, her work ethic and athleticism are unparalleled, because she always makes sure that she is prepared and is very versatile on the court." As the team's only two seniors, the two Ms also witnessed the transition from former coach Becky Bell to first year coach Stephanie London this season. "Being a senior and not being dependent on the coach meant that it wasn't a tough transition for me," Maes said. "But it was tough for me when Becky left, because she was like a mentor to me." And where the plot thickens is between the approach each player takes when facing an opponent and how each player landed in Tucson. "I'm pretty easygoing off the court and more intense on the court, but I'm not as intense as other people," Miringoff said. "A tennis match is just a tennis match, but I always go out there to win." London agrees that her team's top two tennis players have diverse approaches to the game. "Betsy likes to leave her tennis on the court, but on the court she's an unbelievable competitor," London said. "With Vicky it's an ongoing process, because she puts in a little more time preparing and getting in shape off the court." London foresees a bright future for both of her departing seniors. "Both of them have gotten the idea of what college tennis is all about," London said. "They will be successful; you can honestly say that about those two." Arizona caught Miringoff's eyes, but she developed her passion for tennis in Nina, Wis., where she was born. "By the age of 10 or 11 I gave up all other sports to play tennis," Miringoff said. "And I have no regrets over coming to UA, because I wanted to play in the toughest division possible and the athletic department and Stephanie have been great." Maes said she always looked forward to coming to an American university as a young tennis fanatic in Belgium. But just how much of an impact have Maes and Miringoff had on UA's tennis program? "When they got here, UA kind of peaked," London said. "They have been part of a history-making team, they made UA peak, put the school on the tennis map and set a high standard of excellence." And, although Arizona tennis fans, friends and media will miss the duo's unbridled passion for the sport, the proud tennis torch will be passed on - in time. "I'm looking forward to passing on my experience to the younger girls as a volunteer coach next year," Maes said. "But, the future success of this program all depends on whether Stephanie does a great job recruiting." It might be a while before UA sees two players as dedicated, motivated and talented as this pair. "Vicky and I have tried to help in recruiting," Miringoff said. "But, hopefully she'll build up the program, but I don't know how long it will take to find players who will be able to walk into the program and play No. 1 and No. 2." The last leg of these two seniors' storied careers will begin March 15 at the NCAA Regionals - a division of the playoffs neither player has had to attend since they had always received a bye from the first round. "I have confidence in the team and I'm looking forward to the regionals no matter who we face," Miringoff said. As for Maes, the captain of the team is looking forward to getting by the opening round and on to the NCAA Championships. "The regionals will be a warm-up for nationals," she said, "because I'm confident we'll get through." Miringoff File Year Singles Record 1998 13-6 1997 18-11 1996 29-10 1995 24-9 Totals 84-36 Maes File Year Singles Record 1998 13-6 1997 29-11 1996 47-10 1995 20-18 Totals 109-45 Ranked No. 1 in the country - first time for a Wildcat - during sophomore year Has played in the No. 1 singles spot for UA for her entire career Named 1996 Pac-10 women's tennis player of the year