2006 Women's Tennis Outlook
"I am looking forward to the season. It feels like the fruits of the last two years will really pay off for us this year. The bulk of this team is in our junior class and they have all improved tremendously. They are looking forward to this year with confidence and belief in themselves. We finished fourth in the Pac-10 last year and we know that the teams in front of us were some of the best in the country, so we feel really good about where we are at. We also know the teams that finished behind us were very good as well. The team has worked hard this fall to get into good shape and I think that both technically and strategically we have improved. Our kids know what to do when they are out on the court, they know what their individual game style is and they know how to play within it. I liken it to game planning for a football game because you map out what you are going to do on both offense and defense, and that's something that we have been focusing on with our players. Each one of them understands their personal game style and knows what individually they need to do to collectively have a great season as a team."
Schedule
"Year in and year out, we play one of the strongest schedules in the nation. The Pac-10 is loaded again this year and it is my feeling that Stanford, Cal, and USC could be three of the top-five teams in the country at the end of the season. Traditionally we try to play a tough non-conference schedule, which this year is highlighted by our season opener against last year's NCAA runner-up Texas, as well as tough matches against Wake Forest and New Mexico. As always though, we look forward to playing against quality opponents. It's been a trademark at ASU because our feeling is if you don't get better, you'll get worse. With our schedule, we'll improve as the season progresses. We relish the challenge to compete against the nation's elite. It will be fun for our fans as well as we have 13 home matches this spring. We are looking forward to the support of our fans and we're hoping they will come out and cheer for us this spring."
Returners
"We've got a big junior class with five of them. The kids have really matured. There is no question about it; they have improved.
"Sabrina Capannolo played in the number one spot for us last year and qualified for the NCAAs. That is a tremendous accomplishment for any athlete. Sabrina improved a great deal from her freshman to sophomore season and, if she continues to improve at the same rate, she will be a force for us in both singles and doubles competition this spring.
"Kady Pooler had a super year last year and has certainly improved her game. She's really strong and has improved her fitness level and her belief. Those really come hand in hand because when you are in better shape, you have more confidence and you believe in yourself more. We are expecting another big year from Kady, both on the court and in the leadership role.
"Rebecca Rankin had a very good fall, probably the best that she has had since coming here. She reached the final round of the ASU/Thunderbird tournament and beat some very good players to get there. The key for her is to stay healthy. She has been a little dinged up in her first two years, so health is a big issue. Rebecca's versatility poses problems for her opponents because she has such a different style of game: she can slice, she can drop shot, and she volleys well. These traits also make her a very valuable doubles player.
"A big key for us will be Wendy Pilecka. She is coming off of ACL surgery and
while she is hitting, she is not at full speed yet. A lot of that will come with
time. She is hitting the ball very well and she feels good about where she is
at. It will be up to how much her knee can take. We are shooting to have her
back by the start of the spring season. She played number two for us as a
freshman, and has endured some injuries since then, wrist surgery last fall and
the ACL last spring. Last year was not a great year health-wise, but we are
looking forward to what she can contribute this year.
"Jennifer Kaufman is also returning for us. She has been a very good team
player. As a freshman last year, she didn't see a lot of playing time, but she
had a good attitude throughout it and has been a great team person.
Unfortunately this fall, she had a stress fracture, so she missed a couple
months and it will take her a while to get back to where she was.
"Jessica Leitch has come on very strong at the end of the fall. Technically, she is much better than she was a year ago and has worked hard to get herself into very good shape. As a lefty, she presents a lot of problems for opponents. Her slice has improved and she has become a more aggressive player this fall. Jessica has worked extremely hard this fall on all aspects of her game and we expect her to be extremely successful again this spring."
Newcomers
"Roxanne Clarke has been a breath of fresh air. She's been terrific. She has a lot of moxie. Roxanne is a very good athlete and she loves to play tennis. She is very passionate and it has really energized the other kids. She is fun to coach on the court and she is mature so she has been a tremendous addition to this squad.
"Laila Abdala is exactly what we were expecting to get. She is a great kid and has got a lot of ability. She is a little raw right now, but has improved tremendously this fall. She is definitely going to play a big part in the team's success this spring. Laila is improving each day; she has learned a lot, technically and strategically. It will be fun to see her mature this season.
"Erica Schweyer is continuing to improve. She was a very good junior player when she was younger, but has not really played competitively for a couple years and so she came in a little rusty. She is working on improving her conditioning. She is a really good kid and she is starting to realize what the ASU tennis program is all about and what the commitment level is."