Where the heart is

  ANNA AVIK Seniors Zana Zlebnik (left)
and Jennifer Donahue lead the team with heart,
hoping to make their final season one to remember.

By Jason Saltoun Ebin
Daily Bruin Contributor

Seniors, co-captains and competitors through thick and thin,
Zana Zlebnik and Jennifer Donahue embody what college tennis should
be all about.

Zlebnik and Donahue are making their senior season one they will
cherish for a lifetime. They show up for practice every day with
smiles on their faces, work hard and lead their team.

“I think as a senior you really learn to value each day
for what it is worth,” Donahue said. “It is really
special to see how far you have come as an individual and as a
team.”

First-year assistant coach Jon Reeves sees the impact the two
captains have had on the team.

“Being seniors and knowing all that Jen and Zana have gone
through, the team really has a sense of respect for them. Jennifer
and Zana are two players that the team looks up to. They both have
tremendous work ethics and they always have smiles and are a lot of
fun to be around,” he said.

But life on the tennis court was not always easy for Donahue and
Zlebnik.

“This season they are like a couple of underdogs who are
coming back for their last hurrah,” Reeves said.

Zlebnik, from Maribor, Slovenia, came to UCLA in January 2000 as
a junior transfer from Texas Tech. She came off a great sophomore
year of playing No. 1 singles. She earned a No. 43 pre-season ITA
ranking and immediately hoped to challenge for a top spot at
UCLA.

“I came into UCLA in January and got hurt after a week of
practice. I did not play for three months,” Zlebnik said.
“I was injured last year and did not get to compete. Being
back on the court now is just a challenge.”

Zlebnick is still fighting to get back to the top of her game.
Every day she is one step closer to where she wants to be.

“Even though she was hurt all last year, she has come back
and is ready to play,” Reeves said.

Donahue, a Southern California native, entered UCLA in the fall
of 1997. She enjoyed an impressive high school career but her game
was not at the level to earn her a scholarship at UCLA.

“When I came into UCLA I was a walk-on and thought that I
was always going to be a walk-on. Nothing more,” she said.
“I thought I was never going to get a chance to
play.”

After three seasons of practicing and watching her teammates
compete, Donahue was frustrated with her supporting role and her
status as a walk-on. She wanted to get more out of her collegiate
tennis experience.

“Last spring, I was ready to tell Coach (Stella) Sampras
that I probably was not going to come back,” Donahue said.
“I did not expect her to try and stop me or anything. Maybe
she would just say “˜It’s been fun.'”

But Sampras did not give up on Donahue and Donahue did not give
up on the team. Instead, Sampras asked Donahue to train hard over
the summer and play some tournaments.

“I just did what she asked and then when I came back this
year she gave me a scholarship,” Donahue said. “It was
something I always dreamed of and I never thought it would
happen.”

A scholarship was a dream come true, and she was about to
realize another dream.

For the first time in Donahue’s collegiate career, she has
seen significant playing time. In UCLA’s first two dual
matches, she posted a 1-1 record at the No. 3 doubles spot with
freshman Mariko Fritz-Krockow.

“It is really fun playing with her,” Fritz-Krockow
said. “In a way we all look up to them. Jen has really made
me feel comfortable at UCLA.”

“This year I want to see results and do well and take it
to the next level,” Donahue said.

But working from being underdogs to co-captains is not the only
legacy these two seniors will leave behind. With Donahue and
Zlebnik’s presence on the court this year, something almost
mystical has overtaken the women’s tennis team.

“In all my years of coaching, I have never seen a team
with as high of a sense of team unity and spirit as this
year’s team,” Sampras said. “It is really a lot
of fun to be around them.”

Zlebnik added, “Even though last year we had a lot of
talent and big names, I think with this year’s team, unity
and spirit we can go higher and further.”

So far, heart and team unity has worked its magic. The No. 7
Bruins are 2-0 after a come-from-behind-victory over then-No. 7
Arizona State and an easy victory over Arizona.

In the two wins, Zlebnik and Donahue played their parts to
perfection. They realize this season is it, and they are determined
to go out in style.