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SMU WOMEN'S TENNIS!

Postby MUSTANGTENNIS » Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:02 pm

WOMEN'S TENNIS NEXT MATCH: FEB. 8TH at 1:00pm- Garland Tennis Center...COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE MUSTANGS!


Women's Tennis Team Begins 2006-07 Season

Jan. 22, 2007

DALLAS (SMU) - The women's team kicks their season off with a double-header against UTA and UTSA on Sat., Jan. 27. The matches are slated to start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Garland Tennis Center.

To say that the 2006-07 SMU women's tennis squad will have a new look in the upcoming year is an understatement. The Mustangs are on the brink of a new era and at the helm is first year head coach, Lauren Longbotham. No stranger to the Hilltop, Longbotham previously served as the assistant coach for the Mustangs the last three seasons.

"I am very honored to be given the opportunity to lead this team," said Longbotham. "As the daughter of a tennis coach, it's been my goal to coach at the collegiate level and I believe my experience as a player, a coach's daughter and an assistant coach will help me lead this team to achieve our goals."

Last season, the Mustangs catapulted up the national polls to one of the highest rankings in recent history (No. 43) and posted one of the best starts in program history as well. Longbotham helped guide SMU to a 19-6 season record, earning the No. 1 seed in the 2006 Conference USA Championship. The Mustangs rode the momentum of a 10-match win streak into the conference championship where they finished as conference runner-up.

In her debut season as an assistant coach in 2004, Longbotham played an integral part in leading the squad to its best final ranking in 15 years as the team earned its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1996 and its first appearance in the round of 32 since 1988. In 2004-05, the Mustangs were led by a trio of seniors, finished 16-10, but lost in the WAC Championship semifinals.

The 2006-07 squad is led by five returning players, including two All-Conference USA players in senior Georgiana Marta and sophomore Kristen Reid. Along with Marta, Jennifer Chay helps provide the senior leadership as together the pair posted a .685 winning percentage last season in the middle of the line-up for the Mustangs.

Chay played 18 matches for SMU last season and saw most of her time at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. She started the spring off with three consecutive wins and then strung four wins in a row near the end. This past fall, Chay won the Grey Singles consolation bracket at the Rice Invitational.

"Jen has worked extremely hard in the fall to get herself back on the court," Longbotham said. "Her experience will help this young team and I look forward to her making her senior year her best year ever."

Last season, Marta played most of the season at No. 3 singles as she posted an 11 match-win streak near the conclusion of the season. She often pulled out marathon matches for the Mustangs, clinching the team win for SMU several times as Marta was 5-1 in three-set matches. She was named to the C-USA All-Conference second team. This fall, she advanced to the finals of the Flight Black in the Mean Green Invitational and won the White Singles bracket of the Rice Invitational.

"Georgiana is such a huge asset to this team simply because of her "never give-up" attitude," Longbotham notes. "Her ability to pick apart her opponent and fight till the end of every match makes her such a dangerous weapon for us."

Sophomores Natalia Bubien, Monica Neveklovska and Reid became a main-stay in the SMU line-up last season, pairing as dynamic duos in doubles and battling for wins in singles.

Bubien played the top two spots for the Mustangs in singles and No. 1 in doubles. She posted a five match win streak in doubles with former Mustang Svetlana Kouzmenko near the end of the season. She was the first Mustang since 2000 to be selected to play in the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships and played into the Sweet 16's of the ITA Regional this past fall.

"Natalia is one of the most athletic players that we have and has done a good job of refocusing on what she wants to do at SMU," Longbotham states. "She has set really high goals for herself and has worked hard in the fall to get where she needs to be."

Neveklovska emerged as a solid doubles player, pairing with Reid as the duo posted a five match win streak towards the end of the season and saw some time at No. 6 singles. In fall, she showed great improvement with a great outing at the Baylor Invitational in the White Draw where she posted a 3-1 record advancing to the final round.

"Monica is the most dedicated player on this team," Longbotham continues. "She has worked very hard this summer to prove herself and she is quite talented as a doubles player. Monica is a leader on the team both on and off the court."

Reid held down the No. 4 spot in singles, winning 11 of her last 15 matches in singles. She paired with Neveklovska for a solid duo, especially in the C-USA Championship where they went undefeated. Reid was named to the C-USA All-Conference second team.

"Kristen is one of the most hard-working players that we have on this team," Longbotham said. "She had a great freshman year and we look for her to bring her experience and energy to this young squad."

In addition to the freshness of a new coach and a set of refocused, experienced players is five highly credentialed freshmen. Longbotham believes that the returnees, along with the talented group of newcomers, can continue the recent upward trend of SMU women's tennis.

"I'm looking for our returning players to bring the leadership we need to be successful," Longbotham noted. "We have five freshmen who are eager to make their mark on the program."

Pavi Francis and Claire Rietsch are two freshmen that are expected to make immediate impacts for the Mustangs while Natasha Rudnouskaya and Hillary Collins add more weapons in the SMU line-up.

Francis is a three-time Texas 5A State Singles Champion as she was nationally ranked through the different age groups. Calling Lewisville, Texas, her hometown this local talent was named Dallas Morning News Tennis Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year. With over 100 wins under her belt, Francis posted only three losses in high school. Longbotham feels that Francis' aggressiveness on the court will help the Mustangs in the singles and doubles line-up.

A native of California, Rietsch was nationally ranked in the top 30 throughout the various age groups. She was California's State Doubles Division I Champion when she recorded 10 national doubles championships. Longbotham believes she will be a threat at the net with her versatility on the court and her serve.

"Pavi and Claire have both come in as freshmen ready to prove themselves. They have improved tremendously in the short time they have been here. They are going to make an immediate impact in the line-up."

Rudnouskaya was ranked No. 1 in Belarus in three different age groups and has recorded over 20 international championships. She was ranked as high as No. 14 in Europe and Longbotham believes her great work ethic on and off the court will be valuable to the Mustangs.

"Natasha is a fighter. She has a great ground stroke and will stay on the court all day if she has to in order to win the match," said Longbotham.

Collins was nationally ranked in the top 20 in the various age groups and was a member of the 2003 California State Champion Team and the 2006 Finalist team.

"Her character, heart and fight to work through every point will be a valuable asset to the team and improving her game," Longbotham noted.

"I am very excited and looking forward to the spring season," Longbotham said. "Although we have one of the youngest squads in the history of the program, I believe we have one of the most talented."

Similar to previous seasons, SMU is hosting more than half of their regular season matches at home. The Mustangs will play a tough spring schedule, especially with several nationally ranked teams coming to the Hilltop, according to Longbotham.

With the anticipation of a new coach, eagerness of new players and the experience of returnees, the SMU women's tennis team looks to build on its recent success and attain its goal of becoming recognized as a top tennis program.
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Postby Peruna88 » Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:00 pm

Go Lauren!!!

8)
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