Jan. 18, 2006
Briefly... Loyola Marymount women's tennis opens its 2006 season Thursday, when the Lions travel across town to battle the 12th-ranked UCLA Bruins at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. For the Lions, who finished third in the West Coast Conference in 2005, the match will mark the start of the 30th season of women's tennis at LMU. Fans can follow all of Thursday's action as it happens via the live match tracker at www.uclabruins.com, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Trio of Lions Ranked in West Region... LMU has three players listed among the region's best, as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its annual fall regional rankings. Juniors Robyn Baker and Serena Fermin, along with transfer Pavla Mesterova, are ranked in the West Region's top-20 in singles and doubles. Mesterova and Baker each landed among the top-20 in the west in singles, marking the second time in just four years the Lions have placed two players in the regional rankings. After competing with the Lions this fall, Mesterova earned the 12th spot in the West Region. Baker earned the West's 18th ranking. She saw limited action in 2005 due to injury, but played at the No. 6 spot and finished the spring with a singles record of 9-6. LMU was the only team in the West Coast Conference to place two singles players in the West's top-18. Baker and Fermin combined to make the West's doubles rankings, coming in at the 13th spot. Fermin received All-WCC honorable mention recognition last season for her singles play, but will sit out this 2006 season due to injury.
What's Bruin... The Bruins lead the all-time series with LMU 13-0. The Lions also opened the 2005 season at then-4th-ranked UCLA, and Tamara Tanner came away with a singles win over Alex McGoodwin, now the nation's 77th rank. As a team, UCLA checks in at No. 12 in the latest ITA Rankings released on Jan. 10. Stanford is the No. 1 team, followed by Florida, Texas, Georgia Tech and USC. In addition to McGoodwin, Laura Gordon is 96th and Ashley Joelson is ranked 99th. The Bruins currently do not have a team ranked in doubles.
Transfer Time... After competing with the Lions this fall, Pavla Mesterova earned the 12th spot in the West Region. Last season, Mesterova played at the top singles spot for the University of Texas at Arlington and finished ranked 109th in singles play. She held her singles ranking all season, while going undefeated in dual singles competition.
Schedule Strength... The Lions will face a tough schedule again in 2006, with 12 opponents currently ranked in the ITA January team rankings. After challenging the 12th-ranked Bruins Thursday, LMU will also take on Oregon (27th), Pepperdine (28th), Florida International (30th), UNLV (41st), Fresno State (46th), San Diego State (47th), Long Beach State (57th), San Diego (64th), UC Irvine (68th), UC Santa Barbara (69th), and Boston College (75th).
Women's Tennis Celebrates 30 Years at LMU... 2006 will see the Lions celebrate 30 years of women's tennis at LMU. Head Coach Jamie Sanchez, who began the women's tennis program 30 years ago for the Lions, is spearheading the commemorative year. During the annual alumnae day last weekend, a committee met to begin the planning for the celebration to be held September 22-24. Alumnae involved on the planning committee include co-chairwomen Julie Hladik Reid '02 and Amy Okum Garrity '93, Peggy Reilly '80, Lia Bunker Green '98, Amy Labetich Lane '99, and Erin Sanchez '05. Other alumnae who returned for the festivities included Michelle Rizza '80, Sue Wise '81, and Theresa Holden Ilgunas '80.
-GO LIONS-
