Senior Daria Panova’s quest for her
first national title came to an end in the first round of the NCAA Individual Championships on Monday.
Panova fell to Kentucky sophomore Sarah Foster in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. The loss ended one of the most storied tennis careers in Oregon history.
The 5-foot-7 native of Moscow, Russia, owns many of the Ducks’ women’s tennis records. During her four-year career, she accumulated a program-best 93 career victories and has the most victories in a single season (32). The 22-year-old is also a three-time Pacific-10 Conference singles champion and was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year following her sophomore season.
This season, Panova finished with a 19-14 singles record, leading the Ducks to a 17-8 overall record and an NCAA Tournament appearance. It was the team’s second consecutive 17-win season. Oregon lost in the second round of the tournament to Stanford, 4-0.
In addition to Panova, the Ducks will lose seniors Davina Mendiburu and Ester Bak next season. The team’s top returning starter is sophomore Dominika Dieskova, who finished this past season with a 22-14 overall record.
Swinnen advances to NCAA
Individual Tournament
Oregon senior Sven Swinnen will attempt to win his first national title when he competes at the NCAA Individual Championships beginning Wednesday in College Station, Texas.
The 24-year-old is ranked No. 9 in the country, according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Swinnen will finish his career at Oregon as the school’s all-time career wins leader with 83.
The 6-foot-3 native of Wurenlingen, Switzerland, is also a two-time most valuable player for the Ducks, receiving the award last season and in 2002.
Swinnen will be making his second straight NCAA Tournament
appearance. Last season, Swinnen bowed out in the first round when he was defeated by William Barker of Rice University in straight
sets, 6-2, 6-1.
The Oregon men’s tennis team struggled this season to an 8-15 overall record and recorded just one victory in seven Pac-10 matches.
The Ducks, led by first-year head coach Kevin Kowalik, will lose two of their top players next season in Swinnen and senior Manuel Kost.
Kost was a former team MVP in 2003 and ends his career tied for fifth all-time on Oregon’s career victories list with 55.