Cal Women's Tennis
Taking Aim at a Title
January 20, 1998
With 15 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances since the inception of the women's championships in 1982, the California women's tennis team has built a solid national reputation. In that time, the Golden Bears have reached the quarterfinals 13 times, including last year, and have twice advanced to the NCAA semifinals (1985 and '94). The only thing that has eluded Cal is a national championship, and head coach Jan Brogan believes that the Bears just may have the talent in place to win their first NCAA title this year.
Playing one of college tennis' toughest schedules and competing in the nation's toughest conference, the Bears finished the 1997 season with a 16-8 overall dual match record and a No. 10 national ranking. An accomplishment to be proud of for sure, but the thing that has Brogan all smiles entering this season is that not only does Cal return it's entire starting lineup for the 1998 season-one that already includes '97 All-Americans Amanda Augustus, Esther Knox, Claire Curran and second team All-Pac-10 performer Francesca La'O-but to that group Brogan has added 1997 All-American transfer Amy Jensen and European standout Anita Kurimay.
"I'm really excited about the upcoming season," Brogan said. "With the depth of talent that we have on the team this year, our goal of reaching the NCAA final is quite realistic."
It seems that the pollsters agree with her as the Bears are positioned among the national favorites to win this year's NCAA crown. Cal enters the 1998 season as the nation's seventh-ranked team on the Rolex charts, with six individuals ranked in the top 100, including three in the top 32. The Bears also have two doubles teams ranked in the top 38.
Leading Cal in its quest for a national title will be two-time doubles All-American Augustus. A junior from Palos Verdes who ranked No. 18 on the 1998 ITA/Rolex singles preseason charts, Augustus earned All-Pac-10 Southern Division first team honors in 1997 after playing 23-of-24 dual matches in the No. 1 position for Cal and posting a 19-16 overall record. An all-court player who continues to augment here game with flashes of serve and volley, Augustus finished the 1997 season with a No. 30 ITA singles ranking and will be looking to crack the ITA Top 5 in 1998.
"Amanda always emerges as the team's leader," Brogan said. "She has been the team captain since she arrived here and her teammates look to her as a leader. We are expecting her to have a great junior season."
Challenging Augustus for playing time in the No. 1 slot will be the nation's 22nd-ranked player, Knox. A sophomore from Sydney, Australia, Knox saw most of her action during the 1997 campaign in Cal's No. 3 position, finishing the season with a 16-8 overall mark and a No. 45 ITA ranking. While those stats are impressive for a player in her first year of collegiate tennis, lost in the raw numbers is the fact that Knox ended the season on a roll, reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championship and earning All-American honors. With a year of experience now under he belt, Brogan expects Knox to have quite an impact on the national scene during the upcoming season.
"Esther is a playmaker who uses her opponents pace to work the court," said Brogan. "What's special about her though, is that she has the ability to make something out of nothing. That's a rare trait and something you usually see only on the professional circuit and with the top college players."
After earning doubles All-American honors with teammate Amanda Augustus as a freshman last season, Curran is another player coach Brogan is expecting big things from in 1998. Currently the 26th-ranked singles player in college tennis, Curran posted an 18-10 record a year ago. Though she didn't join the squad until the spring last year, Curran had an immediate impact on the Bears lineup and by the end of the season was playing consistently in Cal's No. 3 and 4 slots. After reaching the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 tournament, Curran received a berth in the NCAA Singles Championship and won her opening round match before exiting in the round of 32.
If there is one question mark heading into the Bears 1998 season, it's the status of junior Francesca La'O, who has been bothered by a nagging shoulder injury. An All-Pac-10 Southern Division second team selection in 1997, La'O held down Cal's No. 2 position in the starting rotation last season, finishing the year ranked No. 37 with a 32-12 overall record. If healthy, La'O will be a key component of this year's Cal team.
"We believe Francesca will be healthy by the time the dual match season rolls around," Brogan said of the Manila, Philippines native. "She is one of the keys to reaching the goals we've set as a team because she has always been one of our most consistent performers. She has the talent to be a top 20 performer this year."
Another returning starter Cal will be counting on will be junior Stephanie Tibbits. Tibbits, who cracked the ITA poll for the first time in her career when the 1997 fall ranking were released, has posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns in her two seasons at Cal, including an impressive 21-14 mark last year.
Cal's two newcomers, Jensen and Kurimay, should also get plenty of work in the Bears starting lineup during the 1998 season. Jensen, a sophomore transfer from Wake Forest who opened the season ranked No. 23, earned All-American honors in 1997 when she advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championship. She also compiled an outstanding 24-6 singles record during the season, including a 7-1 mark in ACC play, and was selected to the All-ACC team. Kurimay, a freshman from Budapest, Hungary, is one of Europe's top juniors and bring a wealth of international experience with her to Cal. Despite possessing no collegiate experience, she opened the season ranked No. 63 by the ITA.
"Amy has the ability to blow people off the court and Anita has the skills to be a very special player," Brogan said. "Those two have really added to our depth of talent and all of our players are finding out that each of them must elevate their respective games in order to keep up."
Sophomores Emeka Mayes and Jenny Lee may also see some playing time but mostly will provide quality depth, essential to any championship run. Lisa Swierniak, who registered a 22-14 record in 1997 playing in Cal's No. 5 and 6 positions, is slated to undergo shoulder surgery and will redshirt the '98 season.
Cal's doubles lineups have yet to completely shake out, however Brogan will begin the season with Augustus and Jensen playing at No. 1, Curran and La'O at No. 2 and Knox and Kurimay at No. 3.
"Solidifying our doubles lineup will be key for us," said Brogan. "We have the talent for three strong teams, but we must find the combinations that are a good dynamic."
Brogan's ability to recruit players who are ideally suited to her formula for success, which she refers to as "the championship team process," has been a hallmark of the Cal women's tennis program during her tenure as head coach. Since it appears that Brogan has assembled the finest collection of talent on any Cal team since she arrived at the university in 1978, whether or not the Bears do reach their goal of an NCAA Championship may ultimately depend on the team's commitment to the "process". Because there is little doubt that all the elements essential for a run at the national title are in place.
"We have some of the best physical talent in the country, so all of the ingredients for success are there" Brogan said, "We've set a high goal, which is to win an NCAA Championship either next year of this year. So the challenge is there, and that's exciting."
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