Graceful, elegant and soft. These are words commonly used to describe the game of tennis.
The Virginia women's tennis team has not quite conformed to these standards.
"This has been a team that's very gritty, very competitive when they're out on the court, a very scrappy team that fights very hard," coach Phil Rogers said.
During Saturday's five-hour-long, 4-3 victory over Marshall, the Cavaliers showed that they are capable of living up to the standards set forth by their coach.
With 2003 All-ACC selection Jennifer Tuchband and No. 1 starter Henriette Williams graduated and top player Lori Stern lost to off-season shoulder surgery, this team has been forced to make adjustments.
"The goal is to come together as a team and do well and win a lot of matches," sophomore Kristen James said. "Overcoming ourselves and rooting for the team whether you win or lose -- that's important, because all that matters in the end, really, is how the team ends up."
In addition to the young but experienced group of returning players, transfers Shannon Stough, Mariko Fritz-Krockow and freshman Caroline Hammond are expected fill in the gaps left by Stern, Tuchband and Williams.
Last season marked an improvement over previous years for the Cavaliers. Their No. 35 final ranking was 22 spots higher than the 2002 season ranking. And with a solid core of returning starters and some key transfers, there is reason to believe this year will be even better.
The addition of Fritz-Krackow may prove to be especially important. She's played several matches at No. 1 this year and is described by Rogers as "a big hitter and a very aggressive player." Whether or not she is able to compete at the level of departed seniors Tuchband and Williams should have a large effect on the success of this year's team.
Fritz-Krackow has shown promise that she can fulfill the role of the No. 1 spot. She had success in pre-season tournaments, including an upset over Miami's Melissa Applebaum, the 48th ranked player in the nation, in the Midwest Blast. She also advanced to the quarterfinals of the ITA Regionals.
Virginia returns junior starters Dora and Marta Bechliwanis, identical twin sisters, who finished last season with a doubles record of 13-6 and singles records of 21-10 and 20-11, respectively. Also returning are sophomores Kristen James, Lauren Bruch, Kyle Montgomery and lone senior Laura James.
The younger James finished last year with a 23-11 overall record but will be without partner Lori Stern this year, with whom she compiled a 17-4 record at the No. 2 spot last season.
Bruch is coming off a 17-7 inaugural campaign, and Montgomery will look to continue the momentum from a season-ending, eight-match winning streak and a 10-1 overall record.
Thus far, the team is ranked 31st in the nation with a record of 3-1. The lone setback came at No. 12 ranked Vanderbilt on Jan. 18. According to James, the Cavaliers are confident following a strong start, but Virginia coach Phil Rogers stressed the importance of staying level and working hard.
"It's nice to be 3-1, I think everybody feels pretty good," Rogers said. "I'm not so sure I would call it momentum so much as we know we have to prepare and prepare well every time we come onto the court. There are no easy matches in college tennis."
Virginia has a particularly difficult schedule this season. With Duke, North Carolina and Clemson all ranked in the top 15, as well as Florida State and Maryland in the top 75, there should be no shortage of difficult matches. Non-conference opponents Virginia Commonwealth, Brown and Virginia Tech are all ranked as well.
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, many of these tough matches will take place in Charlottesville. Brown and UNC Greensboro are Virginia's only home matches in February, but the schedule becomes more intense the rest of the way. Ranked opponents Florida State and Virginia Commonwealth both make their way to Snyder Tennis Center in March. April provides the greatest opportunity for the Cavaliers to make some noise, not only in the ACC but in the nation, when top 10 opponents Duke and North Carolina travel to Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers have shown an ability to work hard and play well, but whether that will be enough against the top teams in the country soon will be discovered.
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