W. tennis heads to Seattle for Pac-10 Indoors
Bruins occupy top spots in all three flights of tourney
By Chris Isidro
The UCLA women’s tennis team hopes to make a statement to its
conference foes this weekend.
But with the Bruins seeded atop all three singles flights at the
Pac-10 Indoor Championships, no press release will be
necessary.
The tournament, beginning today in Seattle, opens the conference
schedule for the No. 7 Bruins. While it has no direct bearing in
the team standings, head coach Bill Zaima sees the Pac-10 Indoors
as an opportunity to grab the attention of the rankings
committee.
"I want to win all the flights this weekend to send the message
that I want us to be seeded in the top four for the indoor
nationals next month," Zaima said. "Right now, two teams aren’t
going so that would make us the fifth seed pitting us against the
No. 1 team in the first round, so we need to move up."
Juniors Jane Chi and Keri Phebus, both nationally ranked in the
top 10, represent the Bruins in the top flight. Although both are
expected to meet in the finals, they will have to negotiate through
their toughest field this season.
"Big, powerful players in the first flight  people who hit
the ball 95 to 100 mph off the ground," Zaima said. "It’s a very
strong No. 1 flight."
Perhaps more difficult than the field in the first flight was
the task of deciding Bruin entries in the other two divisions. With
three players capable of competing in the second flight but only
two spots available, Zaima eventually gave the nod to experience,
choosing junior Paige Yaroshuk and senior Susie Starrett over
freshman Stephanie Chi.
"We decided to put Stephanie in the third division because I
don’t know how much Yaroshuk’s or Starrett’s game will change,"
Zaima said. "But Stephanie’s game right now is evolving and I think
she’ll have an opportunity to stay on the right track with easier
opponents."
The younger Chi, who would have been seeded third behind
Starrett and No. 1 Yaroshuk in flight two, assumes the top spot in
her bracket. Junior Anicia Mendez rounds out the Bruin singles
contingent playing along with Chi in the third flight.
UCLA also figures to be dominant in doubles, featuring the
All-American tandem of Phebus-Starrett in flight one and the Chis,
who defeated them earlier in the season, in the second flight. The
Bruins, who have been working on their attacking formations, hope
to send balls flying into the stands.
"We want to poach a lot, hit tons of overheads, and just play
very aggressively," Zaima said. "Unless someone can pass us, we
want the person up front to take that ball every time."