2003-04 Women’s Tennis Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Owning five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, the Ohio State women’s tennis team is expecting even bigger results this year. With a wealth of experienced players returning and an unusually strong incoming group, a Big Ten championship and deep advancement into the NCAA tournament are goals that are in reach.
Head coach Chuck Merzbacher is anticipating a great deal of competition among his athletes in practice this year. He expects that to translate to a stronger team overall. “I think that the competition is a good thing,” Coach Merzbacher said. “We have a bigger team this year, with 12 on the roster, so I think that competition to play, competition to travel, and competition for positions is going to be there. I think it will be a healthy competition and it will make everyone better.”
The team must account for the loss of 2003 graduating seniors Sadhaf Pervez and Michelle Matko, both of whom finished their careers among the Top 10 in career singles victories at Ohio State. Though Pervez’s play at the top of the line-up, which garnered her a place on the All-Big Ten team, will be missed, Merzbacher is optimistic about the team’s chances. Along with seven letter winners, the coach welcomes in four new players (three freshmen and a transfer). “The incoming group is one of the strongest we’ve had and our returning class is very strong,” he said. “We have to wait to see what the results are, but I would say that our returning kids, as well as the new kids, are definitely vying for a top 4 spot.”
Capitalizing on Experience
If the newcomers need anyone to ask about breaking into the Top 4 early on, Erica Fisk (Indianapolis, Ind.) is the one to ask. Now a senior, she has played in the top four since her arrival at OSU. She already owns two 20-win seasons in her career, and is coming off a successful summer in which she won the ITA Collegiate Summer Circuit Midwest Regional tournament. Fisk is primed for a strong finish to her career as a Buckeye.
Last season, Fisk combined with classmate Jackie Leskovar (Cambridge, Ontario) to form a formidable doubles team. The coaches hope to keep that pairing together again this year. Of the returning Buckeyes, Leskovar led the 2003 team with 23 wins. She hopes to be a senior leader for the Buckeyes in 2004 in both singles and doubles.
Merzbacher also is looking for leadership from senior Lindsay Williams (Beverly Hills, Mich.). She spent last year teaming with Pervez on the top doubles team, and this year the coach anticipates Williams will find a new partner, while also becoming a threat in singles.
Returnees Ready to Step Up
More than simply strong at the top, this Buckeye team is packed with quality players who hope to fill out the lineup. The duo of Meaghan Colville (Sr./Toronto, Ontario) and Lindsay Adams (Jr./Mercer Island, Wash.) last year was a successful doubles tandem. They both have the potential to join the singles lineup, and they also figure to maintain their winning doubles ways. Emily DeCamilla (Jr./Sacramento, Calif.) is primarily a singles player who held down the No. 5 spot last year after transferring from Maryland. Possessing a strong serve, she hopes to improve her net play and overall consistency this year. After waiting for an opportunity to play, Lindsey Bryan (Jr./New Orleans, La.) responded by winning 15 matches last season and looks to build on that success this season. Emily Howard (So./Akron, Ohio) brings a strong work ethic to the team and hopes to see that pay off this year after winning the Coaches Award last season.
Instant Impact
The newcomers to the team this year bring with them impressive credentials and immense talent, which could allow some or all of them to contribute sooner rather than later. Meredith Vincent (Jr./Cincinnati, Ohio) brings her strong and accurate ground game back to the Buckeye state after spending two years at Virginia Tech. While with the Hokies, she played as high as No. 2 in the lineup and she looks to figure in the mix both in singles and doubles this season.
Of the three talented freshmen, Anna Volberg (Fr./St. Ursula, Toledo, Ohio) was the first to become a Buckeye, signing in November 2002. Volberg won the 2002 Ohio State Singles Championship.
Also joining the Buckeyes this season is Sonia Ruzimovsky (Fr./Brooklyn Tech, Brooklyn, N.Y.). She brings a powerful serve and diverse game that she honed while going undefeated in her four years of high school in the formidable Eastern Tennis Association. Kristen Messmer (Fr./McDonogh, Lutherville, Md.) hopes to contribute in singles and doubles for the Buckeyes. She is a hard-worker who was named Baltimore Sun Player of the Year in 2002 and comes off a strong summer on the junior circuits.
Schedule
The 2004 schedule is another reflection of the coaches’ desire to take their program to the next level. The Buckeyes will face 10 NCAA Championship qualifiers, among them non-conference foes Tennessee, Notre Dame, William and Mary, UNLV and Kentucky. After spending most of the winter months (January and February) at home, OSU will spend all of March on the road, playing many outdoor matches, in an effort to prepare for both conference play and the NCAA tournament. Additionally, the coach expects the Big Ten, which traditionally is known for having quality tennis play, to be unusually strong this year. Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana all are coming off of NCAA appearances and are primed to provide big challenges to the Buckeyes.
Merzbacher says the team welcomes the challenge.
“I think there’s a lot of motivation from the team, knowing that the schedule is so tough,” he said. “I think that motivation is great to have.”
