Young Zags Squad Set For WCC Championships
4/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
SPOKANE, Wash. - In the blink of an eye, the Gonzaga University women's tennis team finds itself preparing for the 2013 West Coast Conference Championship which begins Wednesday at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, Calif. Although the Zags enter as the ninth-seed, the young and athletic squad is ready for anything.
"We are very excited for the conference tournament," head coach D.J. Gurule said. "I feel that our team has been so close in a lot of our WCC matches and this is another opportunity for our young team."
As the No. 9 seed, the Zags face the University of San Diego in its opening match. The Bulldogs and Toreros battled in Spokane Mar. 22 but San Diego left with a 6-1 victory. The Bulldogs lone point came from Franziska Koehler who defeated Mikayla Morkel-Brink 7-5, 3-2 (retired to injury).
However, the squad knows what they are up against.
"This is by far one of the strongest years for WCC tennis," Gurule explained. "There has been six teams ranked in the ITA top 75 over the year and each team is extremely talented. The WCC title is up for grabs with three teams sharing the regular season title."
Atop the WCC regular season standings at 7-1 are Saint Mary's College, Pepperdine University and Santa Clara University. Although the Bulldogs struggled at times in WCC play, the team finished with nine out of conference wins including a perfect week in Orlando, Fla., over spring break.
Gurule doesn't feel the record or conference seed truly reflects what the group has accomplished this year.
"I really thought that everyone stood out at one time or another during the year," Gurule stated. "Obviously Samantha Polayes had an amazing year, but Katie Edwards and Kylie Peek had some great wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 spot. Isabell Klingert played well early in the year, Alexandra Tallas improved this year and Sissi and Melanie Yates have been solid for us in the No. 6 spot."
Gonzaga knows anything can happen during the championships and that the team has the talent to surprise some teams.
"It is crazy knowing that a lot of our team is underclassmen and they will continue to get better," Gurule said. "I am very proud of this team and all we have battled this year. With the loss of Prue Teitzel at the start of the year to our brutal schedule to end the year, this club has persevered. I am very excited for this group and the bright future they have."
Gonzaga and San Diego will begin Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
