Women's tennis looks to improve national ranking

Arizona Daily Wildcat Vicky Maes

"In college tennis you have to work as a team, and all the girl's got to see each other play, so it was a good test for the team," team captain Vicky Maes said.

Head Coach Stephanie London guided her No. 24 Wildcats against the Pacific 10 Conference's original six members plus expansion teams Washington, Washington State and Oregon.

"I feel really confident with the leaders on the team, especially their leadership and tennis ability," London said. "Betsy Miringoff is back on the top of her game and Vicky is rebounding nicely from an arm injury."

Maes and Miringoff both lost their first flight quarterfinal singles matches and Suzanne Zabrodsky lost her fourth flight quarterfinal match as well.

UA's duo of Vanessa Abel and Michelle Gough reached the second flight doubles finals by beating Bruins' Elizabeth Schmidt and Kelly Rudolph 9-7.

"We played really well together and had a positive attitude. It was our first time ever playing together," Abel said.

Abel and Gough lost, however, when Cal partners Anita Kurmay and Esther Knox put together an 8-4 victory.

"At first we had to adjust to their courts because the ball was skidding a lot. It was a great tournament, but a lot of waiting around because they only had six courts," Abel added.

Junior Monique Allegre, competing in the second flight, was defeated in the second round 7-6 (10), 6-3 by Cal's Amy Jensen.

"Monique is going to be challenged because she is going to be playing higher than she has ever played. She will be tested," London said. "She could be playing in the top three or four by the end of the year, but the potential is there for the younger players to achieve even more."

Tucson native and UA graduate Courtland Gettel joined the team as an assistant coach Dec. 20, replacing Banni Redhair, who left to start a career in accounting.

"I've been a player my whole life, but have coached in some capacity since I turned 18 and hurt my back as a player for the UA," he said. "I'm very competitive, so I'm definitely going to bring a positive attitude."

Gettel, a former captain at Pima Community College, ascended the tennis ladder to the 18th-highest rung in the nation during his playing days.

"Court is very competitive and outspoken. He really cares about the girls and the girls really feel that he's in their corner," London said. "At practice, he's very vocal and active. He'll actually run with the girls."

The Wildcats will attempt to improve their ranking by hosting Texas Christian and Mississippi at the University of Arizona Invitational this weekend held at the Robson Tennis Center.

"This is the first opportunity for us to see where we really stand," London said. "We'll see if we can beat them, and then we'll worry about the national rankings. I'll be curious to know how good the team really is."