2000-2001 Women’s Tennis Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Nov. 20, 2000
Last season, the Ohio State women’s tennis team put together what could be considered the best campaign in program history. Under head coach Chuck Merzbacher, the 2000 squad won the first Big Ten regular-season title in school history. The team, a singles player and a doubles team qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second-consecutive season. In addition, the team earned the highest ranking in program history (No. 22), tied the school record for wins in a season (18) and went undefeated (11-0) at home.
With all eight players returning from that team, as well as two strong newcomers added to the roster, Merzbacher, in his fifth year at the helm, is hoping for as much, if not more, success this season. In addition to the team’s yearly goals of finishing in the Top 4 in the Big Ten and qualifying for the NCAA Championships, Merzbacher has added expectations for his squad.
“Coming off the season we had last year, I feel pretty good about the possibility of drawing a Top 16 seed in the NCAA Championships,” he said. “Being seeded that high gives you the chance to host the first two rounds of the tournament and would lend itself to a better draw than we received last year.”
Last season, after finishing third overall in the final conference standings (based on regular season and tournament results), the Buckeyes advanced to their second-consecutive NCAA Championship. They were placed in a bracket with No. 36-ranked Miami, Fla., and Georgia, the then-No. 2 ranked team. Ohio State defeated the Hurricanes, 5-2, for the first NCAA tourney win in program history before falling to the eventual national-champion Bulldogs in the second round.
All-Big Ten Returnees
Two-time All-Big Ten honoree Kristy Dascoli (Sr., Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Academy), the Big Ten Player of the Year last season, will be expected to lead the Buckeyes again this season. Dascoli, the only OSU player to ever qualify for the NCAA Singles Championships, received a bid to the national tournament for the third-consecutive season. She compiled a mark of 29-11 at No. 1 singles last season, which ranks second (tied) all-time in single-season singles victories. Entering the season, she needed only eight singles wins to become the program’s all-time singles wins leader.
“Kristy should be focused on finishing on a high note,” Merzbacher said. “She has three years of great experience. She should be an All-American in both singles and doubles. That is a goal that is attainable for her this year and is what she needs to shoot for.
“Kristy’s record stands alone – she is the best to ever play for the Buckeyes.”
In addition to Dascoli’s impressive singles career, she also has been a standout doubles player. She and partner Monica Rincon (Jr., Lapeer, Mich./West) qualified for the NCAA Doubles Championship and posted a record of 20-6. The duo ended the season ranked No. 18 after posting a first-round upset win in the NCAA tournament. Rincon had a doubles mark of 28-10 on the year, which ties for second on the all-time single season doubles wins list.
Rincon, who played at No. 2 singles for the Buckeyes as a sophomore last year, also earned All-Big Ten honors. She set the program record for singles wins in a season after posting a mark of 30-11 and was named the ITA Midwest Region Player to Watch at the end of the season.
“This should be a year where Monica will really come onto the scene nationally,” Merzbacher said. “This year she is more of a player everyone knows about. She should make a run for a NCAA singles bid. In doubles, she and Kristy are hoping to be one of the dominant teams in the nation.”
Back for the Buckeyes
Senior Laura Maloney (Sr., Barrington, Ill./Colorado State) also is in her final year for the Buckeyes. Last season she compiled a mark of 17-18 in singles.
“Laura has improved a lot in singles and doubles,” Merzbacher said. “She will help add depth to the team this year. She always does a great job no matter where you put her in the lineup.”
Claudia Castro (Jr., Dublin, Ohio/Aquinas (Wis.) and Michelle Matko (Jr., Aurora, Ill./West) complete the junior class. The tandem will help add to the depth in both singles and doubles. Castro, who missed some time last season with a knee injury, was 11-9 in singles. Matko posted a singles mark of 26-11, which ties for seventh all-time on the singles wins record list.
“Claudia and Michelle both have experience from participating in the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons,” Merzbacher said. “We’re looking forward to a solid final two years from both of them. Michelle also will be trying to get a bid to the NCAA singles tournament, which is something I believe she can attain.”
The sophomore class is comprised of Sadhaf Pervez (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills), Taryn Bowen (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Katherine Martin (Kennewick, Wash./Kennewick). Pervez led the rookies last season with a record of 27-14, a mark that ranks fifth (tied) all-time in season singles wins. She led the entire team in the fall season with a record of 12-4.
“Sadhaf had an outstanding freshman year,” Merzbacher said. “She is a very good doubles player. The best is yet to come for her. She has matured a lot. She is the fire on our team. She keeps everyone moving in the right direction with her play and enthusiasm.”
Bowen posted a record of 6-19 last season in singles. She led the Buckeyes to an upset-victory over then-No. 15 ranked Northwestern with a three-set victory at No. 6 singles. Martin was 9-16 on the season in singles.
“Taryn got a lot more playing time last season than we expected she would,” Merzbacher said. “The experience she got last year will help her compete for a spot this season. She now knows what collegiate tennis is all about and she can use last year as a springboard for success.
“Katherine will be fighting hard for a spot this season,” Merzbacher said. “She gained a lot from last year and worked hard this summer.”
The Newcomers
Joining the Buckeyes this season are freshmen Erica Fisk (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) and Lindsay Williams (Beverly Hills, Mich./ Birmingham Groves). Fisk reached the semifinals of the Indiana state tournament before falling in a third-set tiebreaker. She was an all-conference and all-county honoree. Williams was a state finalist in 1999, a four-time all-state honoree and regional champion and a three-time league champion.
“Our recruiting class is one of the best in the Big Ten,” Merzbacher said. “Erica is athletic and a good competitor. She is very good off the baseline, but she picks the right times to go to the net. She is a finisher. She will be pushing to make a dent in the lineup from the start.
“Lindsay is an all-court player,” Merzbacher said. “She is physically strong enough to stay with the top college players. She won’t be intimidated by the college game – she will be tough to beat.”
The Schedule
The Buckeyes have a challenging dual meet season ahead of them again this season. The Big Ten is always tough and the squad also will face other nationally-ranked teams, including Duke, Tennessee and Notre Dame.
“Our non-conference schedule is tough,” Merzbacher said, “but our league matches will be just as challenging. Almost all the teams in the Big Ten are ranked. Many of the conference schools brought in good recruiting classes and will be much improved.”
Ohio State ends the spring season by playing host to the Big Ten Tournament, April 26-29, 2001. The squad will have the chance to win the program’s first overall Big Ten title on its own home courts at the Stickney Tennis Center.
“The key is ending the Big Ten season with the Big Ten Tournament at home,” Merzbacher said. “It would be great to send our seniors off with a title. We want to peak at the right time. Holding the tournament here should be fun.”
With all the pieces in place, the Buckeyes are ready to work to reach their goals. All 10 players on the squad will challenge for a spot in the starting lineup, leading to success for Ohio State this season.
