UA not overlooking Rebels

By Kevin Clerici
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 9, 1996

The women's tennis team has taken it one game at a time all season.

With their biggest match of the year Saturday, now is not the time to change.

The No. 4 Wildcats (16-2 overall, 6-1 in Pacific 10 Conference) host No. 49 UNLV today at the Robson Tennis Center at 2 p.m. No. 1 Stanford will be in town Saturday.

The two UA losses this season come from Stanford, but a strong, experienced UNLV team can not be overlooked.

"We have control of our own destiny. We have to take care of business, which means taking one match at a time," head coach Becky Bell said. "We have to concentrate on the Runnin' Rebels for now."

The Wildcats have won their last seven and are coming off a 5-3 win over No. 23 Arizona State.

"UNLV has an experienced team. They are good all the way down the line," Bell said. "They have a very good team. We have a lot of respect for them."

The Runnin' Rebels' top player is Marianne Vallin, who is nationally ranked at 15 and is UNLV's No. 1 singles player.

"Vallin is very quick, and she has solid ground strokes," Bell said.

UA All-American sophomore Vicky Maes and Vallin have met twice this year, with Maes winning both matches.

On Sept. 30, Maes defeated Vallin 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 at the ITA Clay Court Championships. The pair met again at the Rolex/ITA Collegiate Championships on Nov. 11, with Maes coming out on top 6-4, 7-6.

"They have had some very good matches. I expect the same today," Bell said.

Maes is currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the country with a 39-5 overall record and an 18-0 record in dual match play. Also ranked on the team according to the April 2 ITA/ Rolex rankings is junior Stephanie Sammaritano at the 38th spot, sophomore Betsy Miringoff at 52nd and freshman Karen Goldstein at No. 110.

The Wildcats have five matches left, and all are scheduled to be played at the Robson Tennis Center. Arizona hosts California on Friday at 1:30 and Stanford on Saturday at 11 a.m.

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