After compiling a 16-6 record and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament, expectations are high for the 2010-11 Wayne State University women’s tennis team.
“We have a great group of girls returning,” head coach
Sheila Snyder said. “They work hard both on the court and in the classroom and are a joy to be around.”
The Warriors overall goal is to win a GLIAC championship and again qualify for the national tournament, which would be the sixth time in the last seven years.
The team is led by five seniors:
Jennifer Bradford,
Debora Correa,
Sharon Gill,
Milena Vuksanovic, and
McCall Monte.
“The seniors will be crucial as to how well we do,” Snyder said.
Gill is hands down, the leader of the group. In her three years, she has accumulated all of her school record 64 singles wins and 56 doubles wins from the No. 1 slot. In addition, she has earned First-team All-GLIAC honors all three seasons and GLIAC All-Academic team the past two.
“She should have another great season, returning as our top player, and one of the top in the conference and region,” Snyder said of Gill.
Last fall, Vuksanovic teamed with Gill to win the ITA Midwest Regional Doubles Championship; however, in the spring, Snyder made a switch and decided to partner Vukasanovic with Monte and Gill with junior
Kristina Goranskaya. Both teams benefited with Gill and Goranskaya going 9-0, and Vukasanoci and Monte finishing 7-2.
Snyder said to expect more of the same this fall.
“Sharon and Kristina are a great doubles combo,” Snyder said. “Individually, they are both so competitive and focused. McCall is one of the best doubles players I have ever coached. Her knowledge of the game and experience makes her an asset.”
Goranskaya has accumulated a solid record in her career, going 40-8 and 38-10 in singles and doubles, respectively, while McCall was stellar in both singles (13-5) and doubles (18-5) during her first season at WSU after transferring from Grand Valley State University.
As for Vuksanovic, she has faired better in double matches, going 54-27 compared to her 26-40 singles mark.
Bradford and Correa will hold down the No. 3 doubles again this season after tallying an 11-6 record last season. The 11 wins was a career-high for Bradford, while Correa won double digit matches in singles and doubles for the second time in her career. Bradford also was 13-5 singles competition playing from both the five and six spots.
Junior
Medha Jha and redshirt freshmen
Tanya Joseph,
Caroline Gosman, and
Jessica Kruczek round out the team.
Out of the group, Jha is the only player with collegiate experience having gone 4-4 in singles and 3-4 in doubles in her two year career.
WSU will play six contests at home against GLIAC opponents (Ohio Dominican, Lake Erie, Ashland, Grand Valley State, Ferris State and Findlay) while hitting the road for games at Saginaw Valley State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Northwood and Tiffin. The 2009 schedule will also feature its annual participation in the ITA Midwest Regional.
The team plays host to three matches this weekend, opening tomorrow vs. Ohio Dominican at 3 p.m., continuing Saturday with Lake Erie at 10 a.m., and finishing up Sunday against Ashland at 10 a.m.