The No. 24 Virginia women's tennis team kicks off its dual match schedule with a doubleheader tomorrow against No. 62 Brown and Richmond.
The Cavaliers enter the season with their highest preseason ranking since 1994, when the team began its campaign ranked No. 21 in the nation.. A school-record five individuals and two doubles pairs are ranked to start the season, as well.
"The preseason team ranking of 24 is a good starting point and mostly a reflection of last year's results," Virginia coach Mark Guilbeau said. "There is clearly the potential within this team to achieve many individual accomplishments and most importantly, lead this squad to a team standing among the very top teams in the country."
Indeed, Virginia will be a heavy favorite against both opponents. Although the dual matches will be their first of the season, the Cavaliers were able to shake off some of their winter rust during competition at last weekend's UVa Winter Invitational. Virginia had last competed in early November in the UNC Invitational and ITA National Indoor Individual Championships. The Cavaliers' success against LSU, Arkansas and Utah last week at the Boar's Head Sports Club should provide confidence for a young squad featuring no seniors and just two juniors.
Meanwhile, Brown, the first team Virginia faces tomorrow, has not played since the Harvard Invitational in November, and the Spiders last competed in the ITA Atlantic Regional in October.\nNeither Brown nor Richmond has any nationally ranked players, but both teams possess some noteworthy talent.Sophomore Misia Krasowski led the way for the Bears at the Harvard Invitational with her 3-0 record in the singles competition and 3-0 run through the doubles tournament with senior partner Bianca Aboubakare.
Meanwhile, Spiders freshman Elizabeth Sims offered a glimpse of her precocious ability in the regional tournament, going undefeated in singles play.
Virginia's most impressive performer a week ago was junior Emily Fraser, winner of the singles competition at the UVa Winter Invitational. Fraser also teamed with sophomore Hana Tomljanovic to win the second doubles flight. In all, the Cavaliers won all eight singles flights and two of four doubles flights.
Fraser, at No. 88, and Tomljanovic, at No. 73, are among the five Cavaliers who earned preseason singles rankings. Sophomore Erin Vierra, at No. 29, is the Cavaliers' highest-ranked singles player.
Apart from the individual rankings, Virginia also has two doubles duos gaining national recognition. Fraser and Tomljanovic start the season at No. 10, while Fuccillo and freshman Rashmi Teltumbde are listed at No. 16. Virginia will need all of these players to live up to the high expectations for the team to reach its goals this season.
"We face our strongest schedule in the history of the program," Guilbeau said. "It will be a very challenging and fun season to be a part of [Virginia] women's tennis."
The Cavaliers face Brown at 10 a.m. and Richmond at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Boar's Head Sports Club.
-compiled by Ian Rappaport
Read More
Women’s swimming and diving — the newest NCAA dynasty
By Grace Gould | 1 hours agoIn the end, regardless of which school is heralded as the greatest of all time historically, it is glaringly obvious that Virginia is the greatest women’s swimming school of the modern era.
No. 6 women’s lacrosse gets revenge on No. 14 North Carolina
By Matthew Ryeom | 22 hours agoThe Cavaliers' big third quarter propelled them to a key victory over the Tar Heels.
Virginia softball drops road rematch against Virginia Tech
By Emory Huffman | YesterdayAs Virginia moves through the final week of the regular season, it is certainly critical that its pitching staff maintains the same dominance they have shown throughout the season.
