After a bittersweet weekend of competition, the Oregon women’s tennis team has one last chance for a tune-up, less than 24 hours away from the Pacific-10 Conference Championships.
With a tough, one-point loss to San Diego State still in their minds and the league tournament looming ahead, the Ducks will face a tall order today against No. 32 UCLA.
The match, which will be played in Los Angeles, is only 70 miles away from the Pac-10 meet in Ojai, Calif., and was rescheduled from a Feb. 24 rain-out.
Head coach Jack Griffin is treating the match as a warm-up for the Pac-10 meet. At 0-7 in the conference, the Ducks are assured of ninth-place, regardless of the outcome of today’s 1:30 p.m. match.
With a 5-16 overall record, Oregon is virtually eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention, but several individuals are still in the hunt for postseason bids. Freshmen sensations Courtney Nagle and Davina Mendiburu lead the team in total wins with 17 and 16, respectively.
Sophomores Monika Geiczys and Jeanette Mattsson and junior Janice Nyland have switched off at the No. 1 singles position this season and have NCAA Tournament experience.
Individual wins against UCLA foes today would look impressive to the NCAA selection committee, especially with the postseason so close.
The Bruins are led by No. 20 Sara Walker, No. 85 Petya Marinova and the N0. 19 duo of Lauren Fisher and Marinova in doubles play.
Last season, Oregon nearly defeated UCLA at home, 5-4. Nyland and fellow junior Adeline Arnaud came up with big upsets in the match.
Pac-10 action begins tomorrow with singles flights.