USD Women's Tennis 2004-2005

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2005 TORERO OUTLOOK

Toreros Set Sights On WCC Championships & NCAA Tourney

For a team that has appeared in the NCAA Tournament nine times since 1989, the Univers ity of San Diego women's tennis program has just missed qualify ing for the tour– nament the past few seasons. And the Toreros are sick and tired of being spectators on the sidelines. Receiving a preseason national ranking of No. 5 1, the squad is bound and determined to make the Field of 64 in 2005 . Just one year ago , San Diego ended with a winning record of 11-9 and fini shed No . 42 in the final ITA Poll, but did not receive an invitation to The Big Dance. "We mi ssed getting a bid [into the NCAA Tournament] two years in a row. Two years ago, we were one team out and last year, we were two teams out," commented Torero head coach Sherri Stephens. "My team is just eager to get in . We' re tired of being one or two teams out. "

Entering her 21 st season at Alcala Park, Stephens is very optimistic about her team's chances for postseason success thi s year. Not only does she have a solid core of veterans returning to slug it out on the courts, but Stephens also welcomes two players who could make an impact for her program. Juniors Emma Murphy and Lauren Perl are the leaders of the pack, as their experience and hunger to win have carved them a niche at the top of the singles ladder. Murphy, the 2004 WCC Singles Player of the Year, is the ultimate definition of a counterpuncher, while Perl, an All-WCC Singles Team selection, is an aggressive baseliner who loves to pai nt the lines . Even though Stephens has the services of her two junior aces, she believes the talent of the team extends all the way down the singles ladder. The depth that the Toreros have on display makes this year 's team different from all the other squads Stephens has coached in previous seasons . "I feel strongly that thi s team is different than a lot of teams in that in the past, I' ve had maybe one or two strong players at the top and the and then a pretty big drop between them and the rest of the team," said the long-time San Di– ego coach. "What I like about the team this year is that they are all about the same. They are all top players in their own right, from top to bottom." Getting an invitation into the NCAA Tournament will take more than just stocking up on good players. Stephens is well aware of the fact that having a difficult schedule is imperative, not only in terms of challenging her players, but also in preparing them for the pressures and rigors of the postseason. San Diego will face 13 Top-75 teams this season, highlighted by match-ups with three Top-15 teams: Clemson (No. 7), Washington (No. 9), and USC (No. 12). "My goals, once I came here to the University of San Diego, was to never let down on my scheduling and to always have the toughest competition I could scare up," revealed Stephens. "I know personally, I don 't want to coach against anything but the best. And I know the players, when I recruit them, want to play against the best. I' d li ke to see what we can do against the best teams in the country."

Another reason why Stephens is so upbeat about thi s year's team is because of her team 's approach to competition. She notices that her players are willing to fight for every ball and hang tough in a match, no matter what the score. Stephens points to the addition of redshi rt sophomore Brittany Reitz as one of the main reasons for the team 's never– say-die attitude. A transfer from Purdue University, Reitz has battled injuries throughout her collegi ate career, but appears healthy and ready to provide the necessary spark on the court. "Brittany has basically added [to the team 's toughness]. Emma has the grit and the grind and the fighter attitude ," observed Stephens. "Brittany has given us that edge, that tougher edge that we always kind of needed all the way down." The 2005 edition of the University of San Diego women's tenni s team has all the components to challenge for a NCAA bid : talent, determination and the des ire to be chal– lenged. Stephens is convinced that barring injury, her squad will be battle-tested enough to make a splas h on the nationa l scene come May. "We' re hoping that if everything fa lls the way it should , with injuries and playing our matches and things like that, I fee l the most confident that I' ve fe lt in a long, long time."

2005 University of San Diego Toreros Women's Tennis - Nine NCAA Tournament Appearances