USD Men's Tennis 1995

1995 OUTLOOK Questions Abound For Torero Tennis

Ask Coach Ed Collins about his '95 USO Men's Tennis Team and he first responds with a puzzled look. "I don't know," answered Collins, who begins his 17th year at the helm of the Torero program. "We'll field a team of untested players and hope for the best." It's not that the Toreros will lack any experience -- four of the top six are re– turners -- it's just that most will be play– ing new positions in '95. Gone to graduation is Fredrik Axsater, last year's #1 player and pos– sessor of a USO career singles record of 80 and 41. "We'll definitely miss him," said Collins. Back to play for the Toreros are Emmanuel Udozorh, last year's #2 player; Bobby Hrdina, #3; J.J. Shobar,

Bobby Hrdina

#5; and Jeff Greenhut, #6. "They've all proven they can succeed at a certain level," said Collins. "For us to be good, a couple within this group must step up another level." Based on fall play, one of the leading candidates is Hrdina, a sopho– more from San Diego. At the Rolex Regionals he defeated UCLA's Eric Taino, and at the Rice Invitational he won 4 matches to win the #1 division consolation title. "He has the makings to be our top player," said Collins. Two newcomers figure in Collins' plans, and each comes to USO with a solid junior record. The most impressive, based on fall tournament play, is freshman Jack Whigham. A junior standout from Lake Mary, Florida, Jack was a 3-time Florida State High School Champion. Already he has distinguished himself at USO. In November he was a finalist in the #2 Division at the Rice Invitational, and in December he won the 17th San Diego All-College. Nobody was more impressed than Collins. "He's solid," Collins said, "and mentally very strong." The second Collins recruit is San Diegan James Conda, a former San Diego High School Champion and the 1993 SoCal JC singles and doubles champion. He has what Collins says is '1he experience and temperament to win some big college matches." Returnees who figure to compete for lower singles positions are Mark Huarte, a senior from Tempe, Arizona; nm Truebenbach, a junior from Tacoma, Washington; and Brian Jacobsen, a junior transfer from San Jose, California. How all the pieces fit together on this team -- who plays where, and with whom in doubles -- will take time and a bit of experimenting, according to Collins. "Our goal, as always, will be to do as well as we can," Collins said. The Torero netters will test their mettle against the nation's best teams. On the '95 schedule are dual matches with '94 NCAA Champ USC, '94 NCAA Finalist Stanford, along with perennial top-ranked teams from Cal– Berkeley, ASU , Arizona, UNLV, Kansas and UC Irvine. USO will also be challenged at the Penn/ASU National Collegiate Classic, the Pro-Kennex Tennis Classic, the 24th San Diego lntercollegiates and the West Coast Conference Championships. ''The new format and regional playoffs add to the excitement of college tennis," said Collins, who referred to the ITA's 1994 adoption of the 7-point college match where doubles pro sets precede the six singles matches, and the regionalization -- a la basketball -- of the NCAA's. -- SAN DIEGO .. TS ■■ II The 1995 USO Men's Tennis Media Guide was published by the Sports Information Department, University of San Di– ego. Credits: Ted Gosen, Editor & Layout; Russ Gilbert, Ed Collins & Brock Scott (Busco-Nestor), Photography; King's Printing Corporation, Printing.