Youth on the spot for women's tennis

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior Vanessa Abel takes a swing during a match at the Robson Tennis Center last season. Abel is one of two upperclassmen returning to the team this season.

Seniors Vicky Maes and Betsy Miringoff were a fearsome force that helped make the Wildcats No. 3 in the country in 1996 and they both led the team in singles records since then. At one time in her career, Maes was ranked No. 1 in the country.

But without the two powerhouses on the baseline, coach Stephanie London said that this year's squad is going to have to use youth to its advantage.

"We have a very young team, four freshmen and two sophomores," London said. "But this year's team will have great depth, more so than last year."

London said that the No. 1 spot is still up for grabs and that all the women are talented enough to be considered for it.

"Monique Allegre finished third last year and is a great serve and volleyer," London said. "Michelle Gough has a lot of good shots and a good repertoire."

Vanessa Abel, a junior and Tucson native from Salpointe High School, is one of two upperclassmen returning to the team. Abel said that she likes the balance of talent on this year's team.

"We all want to come together. Monique and myself are the leaders but we are all really equal," Abel said.

Abel said she considers herself more of a doubles player than a singles player though she plays both. Last year she was paired with Maes as the No. 1 team for the beginning of the season. Abel played at the No. 3 singles slot at the end of the season and was not eligible for a Pacific 10 Conference ranking.

"Hopefully for sure I will be ranked this year," Abel said.

Lindsey Blau, a freshman from Ossinig, N.Y., said she is excited about being part of such a good program.

"I really like everyone and I think we have a great coach," Blau said.

Blau and the other freshmen were introduced early to the rigors of training for a top-seeded team. The team's season does not officially begin until January but the women have already started preparing.

"We started Monday running and with weights. Coach has told us to keep up our conditioning because it can only help us," Blau said.

With last year's 12-10 record, the women have a lot of room to improve in the conference standings.

"The Pac-10 is the strongest conference in the country," London said. "Stanford looks very strong."

In the past, Southern Cal hasn't been a threat, but this year's Trojan squad looks very powerful on paper, London said.

"She's from USC, so she's biased," Abel said. "They have a good team, but I think UCLA is our other major rival."

Practice for the women begins Sept. 14 and the team's first court play will be in a mid-October tournament. However, they will face their first opponents in the UA Invitational in early January.

Until then, London said she is just trying to get her players ready.

"I am teaching the girls to develop their own weapons," she said. "The girls have a definite mix of playing styles, but they all are going to play to win."

Rachel Carasso can be reached via e-mail at Rachel.Carasso@wildcat.arizona.edu.