Monday, January 27, 1997
W.TENNIS:
New coach, new players lead Bruins to win over Washington
StateBy Christie DeBeau
Daily Bruin Contributor
With a substantial number of new additions to the UCLA women’s
tennis team, the first dual match of the season was a test for the
Bruins  one they passed with flying colors.
Seventh-ranked UCLA defeated Washington State, 7-2, on its home
court Friday. The Bruins’ match scheduled for Saturday against Utah
was delayed due to rain.
Playing at the No. 1 spot for the Bruins, sophomore Kati Kocsis
defeated the Utes’ Tunde Nagy 6-1, 6-3.
Playing her first match as a Bruin, freshman Katia Roubanova
slaughtered her opponent 6-0, 6-2.
"This was her first collegiate match and she played five for
us," said head coach Stella Sampras. "She played well and it was
good to see all she could do. She is definitely going to be a help
to us.
"It was good to see her play."
Freshman Annica Cooper, junior Kelly Rudolph and Brandi
Freundenberg all won their singles matches against the Cougars.
The Bruins’ only singles loss came when freshman Elizabeth
Schmidt had to retire after tweaking her ankle. Schmidt had already
played two sets (6-7, 6-4) before she stopped.
"It was a call we made based on (the match) being early in the
season," Sampras said. "She wanted to keep playing, but her ankle
was twisted so we thought it best she retired, especially since we
have the big match against Pepperdine coming up."
In doubles, the Bruins won two of their three matches.
If these matches were a test for the newcomers of the team, it
was also one for Sampras as the new head coach for the Bruins.
"This was my first team match as head coach and I was a little
nervous," Sampras admitted. "The team really came together and had
a lot of team spirit. They are a tight, close team."
The coach was proud of the team’s success against Washington
State and looks forward to the rest of the season.
"For our first match they really handled themselves great," she
said. "With so many freshmen, the more we play, the better we will
do. We did very well, and overall I am very pleased and excited to
see what they can do."
PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin
Freshman Elizabeth Schmidt rips a backhand en route to a 7-2
Bruin victory over Washington State on Friday.