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University of Massachusets Athletics
Women?s Tennis Looks to Overcome Youth
September 06, 1999 | Tennis
The UMass women?s tennis team has its eye on the Atlantic 10 title this season, but will have to do a lot of regrouping in order to accomplish the feat. The Minutewomen lost seniors, Jackie Braunstein and Gillian Kane, and Allison Tross, who would have been a sophomore on the team this season, but returns six letterwinners and adds three newcomers to the lineup. Head coach Judy Dixon will direct the squad once again in her eighth year at UMass. Dixon is 81-44 (.648 win%) while with the Minutewomen. UMass finished the 1998-99 season third in the Atlantic 10 Conference with an overall record of 15-8.
The Players
Senior Ola Gerasimova will be a key factor in the 1999-2000 campaign after struggling in the spring. Gerasimova went 19-14 in singles last year, primarily at the No. 2 position, while posting a 15-19 record in doubles. She was second on the team in singles victories. Dixon hopes Gerasimova will gain her confidence back in 1999 to help trigger the team?s success.
Sophomore captain Robyn Lebovitz will be called upon for vocal leadership this season. Dixon says this year?s team is much quieter then in the previous campaign, which is going to be a factor in the team?s success this season. Lebovitz has the skills to go along with her vocal leadership, as she led last year?s squad in singles victories (22).
Sophomore Annie Hamilton returns after having a successful freshman season, in which she compiled an 18-9 singles and a 16-9 doubles record. Hamilton currently has the highest winning percentage on the team (.654).
Sophomore Helena Horak adds more experience to the lineup with a 14-13 singles output, coming primarily in the No. 1 slot. Horak also compiled a 13-10 record in doubles.
Juniors April Madani and Emily Wegner also return to the action this year after injuries kept them off the court last season. Madani saw limited playing time as a freshman (4-1), while Wegner posted a 12-9 singles record in her rookie campaign.
The Minutewomen will also be looking for contributions from freshmen Elizabeth Ebert, Lauren Perry and Katie Stammen.
Ebert was a Lowell Sun All-Star as a senior and team MVP in both her junior and senior years at Westford Academy in Westford, Mass.
Perry, a native of Pembroke, Mass., compiled a .650 win percentage in her four seasons at Silver Lake Regional High School.
Stammen went undefeated in her senior campaign at Bishop Feehan High School in North Attleboro, Mass. She finished her high school career with an impressive 65-1 regular-season record.
The Schedule
UMass has another challenging schedule this year, especially in the month of February. The Minutewomen face Amherst in the fall in their home-opener on Sept. 21. The Lady Jeffs are the defending Division III national champs. They will also be looking for their first series win over Dartmouth on Sept. 30. UMass is 0-5 against The Big Green. The Minutewomen have five tough matches in February, including Army, Colgate and Brown to end the month. Dixon says the team would have a successful season if it can come out of the month with at least three wins, not to mention it would be a huge boost to the squad?s confidence level heading into the A-10 tournament.
The Summary
UMass has a lot of talent and promise to bring to the court this season. If it can manage to fill in its empty spots in the singles and doubles lineups and provide the vocal leadership it desires, there is no reason why the Minutewomen shouldn?t come out on top in 2000.