The Virginia women’s tennis team is preparing to enter one of the toughest parts of its season, as it looks to survive against conference and outdoor competition.
“Most teams don’t get too far ahead and you always take it one team at a time,” Virginia coach Mark Guilbeau said. “But we’ve talked a lot about this next stage of the season, and I think that gives us an edge that we’ve addressed this and we’re ready for this new challenge that’s going to come with these top teams.”
Of the remaining eight opponents on Virginia’s regular season schedule, only N.C. State currently is unranked in the national polls. Three teams hold a spot in the top 10 — Georgia Tech at No. 6, Duke at No. 7 and Miami at No. 8.
“We’ve had to beat some teams to get to where we are now,” Guilbeau said. “We’re going to have to go out there and beat some more teams but if we play our best ... I think if we really keep making progress and go one more notch, we are capable of playing with and maybe beating any of the teams left on our schedule.”
Virginia (10-2, 2-0 ACC) will face two top-15 teams this weekend on the road when it visits Georgia Tech Saturday and Clemson Sunday.
2008 NCAA singles champion junior Amanda McDowell leads Georgia Tech (8-4, 2-1 ACC). Despite her exceptional performance at championships last year, however, McDowell does not hold a permanent spot on the top of Georgia Tech’s roster.
“The standard that [a player like McDowell] sets within a program is the big thing,” Guilbeau said. “Georgia Teach is a team that’s really been led by some top players. McDowell is an NCAA champion who has recently played No. 3 for their team, so that gives you an idea of how strong they are.”
No. 18 McDowell ranks behind fellow teammate freshman Irina Falconi, who is ranked No. 7 nationally.
Clemson junior Ani Mijacika, meanwhile, is helping the Tigers (10-5, 2-1 ACC) maintain their No. 13 national ranking and has earned the No. 1 spot in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles ranking. Virginia freshman Emily Fraser, who will be playing against Mijacika at the No. 1 position, sits far behind at No. 81.
The Cavaliers as a team, though, jumped to No. 1 in the ACC after recent wins against Virginia Tech and Boston College. At the same time, Georgia Tech and Clemson fell to No. 4 and No. 6, respectively.
Virginia’s superior standing can be partly attributed to its depth and adaptability in its 7-0 sweeps against Virginia Tech and Richmond and its 6-1 triumphs against William and Mary, Boston College and Maryland this season.
“We look at every single result throughout the whole year and we also do a lot of scouting – very specific notes on players’ strengths and weaknesses,” Guilbeau said. “There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes in getting ready for matches, and then you really try to fine-tune that and give the kids the very, very precise information that they need to be able to match up as best they can.”
The team focuses on matching the ability of its opponents and taking advantage of challenges.
“I know a lot of girls on [Clemson and Georgia Tech], and there are going to be great opportunities,” freshman Claire Bartlett said. “They’re going to be tougher matches but I think if we can all keep rising up and play our hardest we’ll do really well.”
Guilbeau said he believes Clemson and Georgia Tech will challenge the Cavaliers.
“They’ve got two of the top 10 players in the country at the top of their lineup, so they’re very strong and again, present some great opportunities for us,” Guilbeau said. “I don’t know if they’re quite as deep as Georgia Tech, but they’re certainly a very good team.”
Guilbeau emphasized that the Cavaliers need to adapt to the different strategies used by Georgia Tech and Clemson.
“We’re not going to win this match with only half of the team playing their best,” Guilbeau said. “We’re going to need everyone on the team playing their absolute best.”
The Cavaliers will make their first stop of the weekend in Atlanta, where play begins at noon Saturday.
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