Tennis

Take a look at the Oregon women’s tennis team. No matter what catches the eye, one thing is almost certain.
It’s new.
Nils Schyllander, who served as the assistant coach for the past three years, now heads the program.
Kathryn Sell, a 2001 All-American athlete at Duke University, replaces Schyllander as assistant coach.
And the team, which finished No. 33 nationally last year at 14-11 — its highest ranking in the program’s 29-year history — has three fresh faces vying for playing time.
So. Who’s ready to play some tennis?
“I think everyone is eager to get started, from the players to the coaches,” Schyllander said.
The team won’t have to wait long, either. The women begin practicing Wednesday and open their season Oct. 25 in Palo Alto, Calif.
First on the agenda is finding a replacement for Janice Nyland, last season’s captain.
“I look for (Courtney Nagle and Davina Mendiburu) to step up and be leaders,” Schyllander said.
Nagle acknowledges she has big shoes to fill, but is confident she can help guide the young team to a top-20 finish.
“I think everybody is going to work really hard to better ourselves this year,” Nagle said. “When things are pretty new, it makes you really into the situation.”
And Schyllander, too, hopes the fresh start will help motivate
his players.
Sophomore Daria Panova, who played only half the season this past year, has already solidified her No. 1 position in the singles rotation.
Nothing has been written in stone, however.
“I don’t think there’s a set lineup,” Schyllander said. “We’re very deep. We’re very even.”
And that depth is something Schyllander hopes to capitalize on.
Last year, the team struggled in its doubles competitions. Schyllander said he expects the level of play to pick up and hopes Oregon’s doubles will be one of its strengths. Add to that “a very good recruiting class,” and things are looking very
favorable for the women.
“I think we’re as talented as we were,” Schyllander said. “And we’re not satisfied with where we finished last year.”
The men’s tennis team isn’t particularly satisfied with the way its season ended, either. Last year’s 12-10 overall record hides a horrendous Pacific-10 Conference outing that left the men winless in seven matches.
This year could prove different, however.
“We’re going to try and raise the bar a bit, here, this year,” head coach Chris Russell said. “If you raise your sights, then if you miss the target a little bit, you’re still in fine company.”
The men lost just one player from last year’s squad and will be led by senior Oded Teig, who finished 11-12 this past season. Teig ranks sixth in Oregon history with 54 career wins, and needs just 11 more to become Oregon’s all-time leader.
Russell expects solid play out of everyone on the team, though, not just Teig. Strong singles play should anchor an improving doubles game, he added.
“I’ve got a lot of guys who can play,” Russell said. “We’re going to have a very good team this year.”