Spring Break
Spartan tennis team looking to improve in 2002 campaign
Joseph Weaver, Daily Staff Writer
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The Spartans are coming off of a 7-15 season and hope to elevate themselves in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
"Our goal as a team is to finish in the top five in the conference," head coach Anh-Dao Nguyen said.
Nguyen believes that newcomers Ana Lukner and Noelle Lee with provide the team will a stronger foundation at the top of their lineup.
Lukner, a sophomore who transferred from the University of Texas, is expected to be the team's No. 1 singles player according to head coach Nguyen.
"I'm going to do as much as possible to help the team do much better than last year," Lukner said. "All I can do is just go out, have fun and play good tennis."
Lee, a freshman from Waipahu, Hawaii, is expected to be the team's No. 2 singles player and will also team up with Lukner to form the Spartans top doubles team.
"I'm just looking to get a feel for things," Lee said. "As a freshman I still think I have a lot to learn about college tennis. I'm planning on doing as much for the team as I can."
The only previous action the Spartans have seen this year was in September in the Bulldog Women's Classic in Fresno. In that tournament, Lee won her first three matches before losing in the quarterfinals to the tournament No. 3 seed Chloe Carlotti of Fresno State University.
The duo of Lukner and Lee teamed up to make it to the third round of the Bulldog Classic before getting knocked out of the tournament by Christina Fusano and Nicole Havlicek of the University of California, Berkeley.
With the brief experience in of the Fresno tournament behind them the Spartans can focus on the teams' goal of improving their WAC position.
The conference will present many challenges that the Spartans hope to stack up well against.
"There are many really good teams in our conference," Nguyen said. "Fresno State (University), Rice (University), SMU (Southern Methodist University) and (University of) Tulsa are all very tough."
The roster of the tennis team has a definite international flavor. The team features players from England, Slovenia, Sweden, Hawaii and four Bay Area natives.
"This is a very close-knit team, we get along really well." Lee said.
Nguyen seconded Lee's sentiments that the team is a cohesive group.
"This is a really good group to coach," Nguyen said. "They work very well together and that makes my job much easier."
The top returning players for the team are seniors Anna Nordell and Helen Van. Nordell and Van had brief experience last year as the teams' top-two players, which should provide depth behind Lukner and Lee. This is providing optimism for the new season.
"Our team is really good," Lukner said. "We have very good energy and we are a strong team mentally."
The tennis team opens its season on Feb. 5 on the road against the University of San Francisco. The teams' home opener is scheduled for Feb. 8 at the Los Gatos Swim and Racquet Club against Cal-State Fullerton.
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