Optimism can describe the upcoming season for the Oregon men’s and women’s tennis teams.
Both squads endured difficult seasons last year with injuries and grueling schedules that left them at the bottom of the Pacific-10 Conference standings.
However, many key players are returning with more experience and determination to greatly improve on last year’s results.
For the women, who finished 10-15 overall in 2002, with a 2-6 conference record, second-year head coach Nils Schyllander is confident about what’s to come.
“We’re looking forward to this year,” Schyllander said. “We broke through a lot of barriers (in 2002). Unfortunately, we had some untimely injuries, but I think the future is bright.”
The Ducks return with junior Daria Panova, the reigning Pac-10 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year who won both the indoor and outdoor championships last year. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association recently ranked Panova No. 7 in the country in singles play.
“She is a world-class player,” Schyllander said. “She pretty much did everything you could do in one year.”
The women’s team is also anticipating the comeback of senior Davina Mendiburu, who missed last season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear. The team expects her to be close to 100 percent by January.
“Before her injury, Davina was one of our best singles and doubles players,” Schyllander said. “To get her back will be extremely important for the team’s success.”
Senior Courtney Nagle, named an All-American in doubles last season, will also return to provide veteran leadership. The ITA ranked Nagle No. 35 in the nation.
On the men’s side, the team remains confident in the upcoming season despite losing senior Oded Teig, the Ducks’ career singles victories leader.
“We’re positive,” Oregon head coach Chris Russell said. “We have a good nucleus of guys coming back this year.”
Oregon welcomes back senior Manuel Kost, a member of the All Pac-10 Second Team, after finishing 8-12 overall and winless in conference play.
Kost appeared in the NCAA tournament but went out in the first round, despite recently receiving the highest ITA ranking of his career at No. 31.
The Ducks will also turn to seniors Chris King and Sven Swinnen to provide strong leadership and talented younger players like Thomas Bieri and Eugene native Arron Spencer to produce solid play.
Both the men’s and women’s coaches agree that the Pac-10 is one of toughest conferences to play in the nation.
“It’s challenging, but we want to be the best,” Russell said. “So we have to play the best. We have to be mentally and physically prepared to endure those five weeks of the season.”
The men’s tennis team opens with the United States Tennis Association tournament Sept. 27 in Laguna Niguel, Calif., with women’s play beginning Oct. 4 in Los Angeles for the ITA All-American tournament.