W. tennis: Bruins to test doubles on Lions, prepare for Trojans

After the disappointing postponement of last Friday’s UNLV
game, the women’s tennis team is ready to finally begin their
season. The Bruins open the year against the Loyola Marymount Lions
today at 1:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

The No. 60 Lions do not seem to be much of a threat to the
Bruins, who boast a No. 11 ranking. Nevertheless, the team is
determined to take the game in full stride and with full effort and
concentration.

“This match is more of a preparatory game for the big game
against USC on Friday,” team captain Lauren Fisher said.
“But we still can’t look past (LMU).”

Not only does the game against LMU stand as preparation for the
USC game, but it also acts as a stage for freshmen Daniela Bercek
and Alex McGoodwin to play their first team match.

“They (Bercek and McGoodwin) will need to adjust with
playing under the doubles 8-game pro-set format. They can’t
get off to a slow start,” head coach Stella Sampras Webster
said.

Sampras Webster stressed that captain Lauren Fisher’s play
would also be noteworthy. This game is Fisher’s first team
match since her elbow surgery last season.

However, it is not her first match of the season. Fisher, along
with several other players, took part in individual tennis
tournaments prior to the season. As a result, the LMU match will
force the girls to get accustomed to being on a team once
again.

“The team must have a different mentality,” Sampras
Webster said. “There are no more singles tournaments as the
girls had before. They will use this game to get the jitters
out.”

During the LMU match, the focus will lie on the doubles teams,
which will be composed of different combinations of players than
last season.

Sampras Webster also expressed that the No. 1 and No. 2 singles
matches are going to be very competitive. The Bruins will look to
sophomore Jackie Carleton at the No. 1 position.

Carleton is one of five returning sophomores. With these
experienced, young players, the Bruins are looking forward to a
solid season.

“We feel we are a good team and we haven’t had this
much strength and depth for a while,” Sampras Webster said.
“We are looking forward to playing.”