Ask any coach whose team has experienced a long losing streak, and he or she will tell you how important getting the first win is. The Oregon women’s tennis team has earned that first win and now looks toward starting another streak.
Head coach Jack Griffin and his Ducks hit the road this weekend for a season-ending tour of Texas and California, beginning with non-conference matches against Tulsa and Texas Christian.
A two-month-long losing streak, in which the Ducks lost 11 straight matches, effectively eliminated Oregon from a third-straight NCAA appearance. Nevertheless, several individuals still remain in the hunt for individual nationals bids.
Looking for wins this weekend will be sophomore ace Monika Geiczys, who participated in the NCAA Tournament last season with the Oregon team. Geiczys and freshman Courtney Nagle, the team leader in singles wins, are ranked No. 33 in the latest ITA doubles rankings. The duo is 9-12 on the season.
Not far behind Nagle in the win column is fellow freshman Davina Mendiburu. The Menton, France, native is 12-5 this season after joining the team three months ago.
Another NCAA contender is sophomore Jeanette Mattsson, who was ranked earlier this season by the ITA.
The Ducks take on Tulsa at noon Friday, followed by TCU on Saturday.

Men take on L.A. schools
The Oregon men’s tennis team embarks on its toughest weekend of the season Friday, traveling to No. 21-ranked Southern California and the nation’s top team, UCLA.
At 8-10 and 0-4 in the Pacific-10 Conference, the Ducks will likely need at least one win this weekend to impress the NCAA selection committee.