2006-07 Women’s Tennis Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Dec. 13, 2006
A look into the 2007 season shows an advantageous lineup among the Ohio State women’s tennis roster. With the loss of only one senior from 2006, head coach Chuck Merzbacher, now in his 11th season at the helm, is optimistic this year will be one where the Buckeyes can make use of their experience and talent.
“Knowing there are a lot of people returning, we will be ready to go,” Merzbacher said. “It was very encouraging that every kid on the team played in tournaments over the summer. There was a lot of good summer play by the entire team.”
Having nine returning players will give the Buckeyes an edge on the court, while adding some fresh faces sparks excitement and versatility to the already existing mix of talent.
“We have a lot of competition for spots,” Merzbacher said. “The way it breaks down, all spots are open. Adding two new players gives us the ability to have more doubles combinations. Both freshmen are solid doubles players. There will be a lot of combinations that we will try in the fall. We have always prided ourselves on winning the doubles point in our dual matches and we’d like to get back to owning the doubles point.”
THE SENIOR SQUAD
A triple threat of veterans lead the way for Merzbacher’s 2007 team. Ciara Finucane, Kristin Messmer and Sonia Ruzimovsky return for their final college campaigns, determined to make their last season one to remember. Their combined experience brings leadership and talent to the court.
Ruzimovsky (Sr., Valley Stream, NY./Brooklyn Tech) had 18 victories last season, with the most production coming from the No. 2 spot, where she tallied 10 wins. She also saw playing time at the No. 1 spot, where she had a winning percentage of .500. Messmer (Sr., Lutherville, Md./McDonogh) produced 20 wins to the table last year, which produced her career high winning percentage of .606 for a single season. She played mainly at the No. 5 spot, posting 10 wins, and was undefeated when she played at other spots throughout the year.
This will be the second and final season as a Buckeye for Finucane (Sr., Dublin, Ireland/Georgia Southern University). The native of Ireland transferred to Ohio State from Georgia Southern University last year. She adds invaluable collegiate experience to the team while bringing in 17 wins last season, with 10 of those at the No. 4 spot.
BACK WITH A VENGENCE
Ready for action are returning players Julie Blackmore, Angela DiPastina, Sara Kinning, Caitlin O’Keefe, Nidhi Shah and Julie Voss. The two upperclassman, heading into their third year – and three sophomores, all with a year of collegiate action – are prepared to head back to the court.
“I think returning our Top 3 players from last year is key for us,” Merzbacher said. “Caitlin O’Keefe, Sonia Ruzimovsky and Julie Blackmore all had success at the No. 1 thru No. 3 singles spots last year. With the other returning players and our additional freshmen, I think we will have a combination of talent and depth.”
O’Keefe (Jr., Troy, Mich./Troy) earned 15 wins last season, with six coming at each of the No. 1 and 2 spots.
Blackmore (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) had an impressive debut in 2006, gaining 16 wins for the team. Holding strong at the No. 3 spot, she obtained 10 victories in that position, while clinching a few wins in the No. 2 and 4 spots as well.
Voss (So., San Angelo, Texas/St. Stephen’s Academy) also saw playing time as a freshman and tacked on eight more wins for the Buckeyes. She was positioned at the No. 6 spot for the majority of the spring season. She had a strong summer campaign, finishing first overall in the singles competition in the Southwest Region of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Collegiate Summer Circuit.
Kinning (So., Grand Blanc, Mich./Powers Catholic) had one appearance recorded for a win in the No. 6 spot last season and saw action during tournament time as a freshman that will undoubtedly help her prepare for this year.
Shah (Jr., Mumbai, India/Mithibai College), looks to see more action this season, as she played three matches and obtained two wins for the team in the 2006.
AWAITING THEIR DEBUT
Ally Mueller (Fr., Roswell, Ga./New Braunfels) and Christina Keesey (Fr., Northfield, Minn./Northfield) are the newcomers on the team whose names will undoubtedly crack the roster. Both players attended the 2006 USTA/ITA National Hard Court Championships at the Stickney Tennis Center on the OSU campus and each had strong outcomes. Keesey advanced to the semifinals, then fell to No. 1-seed Elizabeth Lumpkin of UCLA. Mueller made it to the third round before she was defeated by Lumpkin in three sets.
“This freshman class is one of the best classes we’ve had at OSU,” Merzbacher said. “Both Ally and Christina are among the top 50 ranked tennis players in their respective graduating year. They will immediately impact our team in singles and doubles.”
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Ohio State will be facing 27 opponents throughout the season, with 13 at home, to work their way to the top of the Big Ten and national rankings. Nine teams on the lineup were ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association at the conclusion of the 2006 season.
As the 2007 season progresses, the schedule will undoubtedly become more aggressive, with six of 10 Big Ten conference matches on the road. Ohio State opens the spring season with a doubleheader against in-state rivals Bowling Green and Cincinnati Jan. 27. Conference play begins Mar. 4 with a home match vs. Wisconsin before the squad hits the road for five-consecutive road matches. The regular season concludes with home matches against Michigan April 21 and Penn State April 22.
“If this team comes together and progresses, it can certainly compete with the top teams in the Big Ten Conference, fight for the title, and qualify for the NCAA tournament,” Merzbacher said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
