Wednesday, 4/23/97 Rudolph shines the way for Bruin success
Veteran player Rudolph leads team with spirit, experience
By Christie DeBeau Daily Bruin Contributor The UCLA women’s
tennis team has experienced many changes since last year, and
junior Kelly Rudolph has been through all of them. Not only do the
Bruins have a new head coach, four new players and a top-five
national ranking, but they also have a new team spirit that
Rudolph, as team captain, has helped create. "She is the leader of
this team, and the team has so much spirit and camaraderie; and
it’s because of our leaders and Kelly is certainly our leader,"
UCLA head coach Stella Sampras said. Rudolph is aware of the team
spirit and believes that it has played a significant role in the
success that UCLA has achieved this season and will try to extend
into the Pac-10 Championships this week. The tournament, which will
crown the conference singles and doubles champions, begins today in
Ojai and will continue through Sunday. "I think there is definitely
a different kind of spirit this year," Rudolph said. "We probably
have the best camaraderie on our team that I have seen in the past
two years. I really think that is the deciding factor in our
achievements. I was on the team the last two years, and as far as
rankings we had better players, but as team we never ranked that
high. "So, I think that team spirit and camaraderie had a lot to do
with that. This year we have four new players, three who are
freshman, and so you would think this was our building year, but
look how far we have come already just this year. We have already
surpassed what we have done in the past two years that I have
seen." The Bruins are currently ranked fifth in the nation and
stand with a 15-5 record. The atmosphere that the team friendships
provide have made this year’s season an enjoyable experience for
Rudolph. "I am happy to be on this team," Rudolph said. "We have
all just gotten along. Everyone is friends and everyone just hangs
out together, even off the court. I think that makes the team
stronger when everyone pulls together. I enjoy the competition, and
being a part of this team has definitely enhanced my love for the
sport. It just makes tennis so much more fun." As the team captain,
Rudolph holds a leadership position, which is important to the team
especially with so many new players. Rudolph realizes that she is
the veteran and that it is up to her to be the role model for the
younger players. "I see my role as to provide the experience to the
team," she said. "I know that with four new players this is their
first time for everything – traveling and playing the teams. I just
try to offer advice on things that I have experienced, try to be
the leader, get things going, try to be a motivator." Throughout
the season, Rudolph played No. 4 for the Bruins. Although it was
difficult for her at first to be a veteran playing at a low
position, Rudolph accepted her position in the lineup and was able
to win big matches for the Bruins. By mid-season she had an 11-game
winning streak, giving her an overall record of 21-8. "Kelly is a
person that is a team player and wherever she plays she is going to
go out and fight and try to win," Sampras said. "Everyone wants to
play high, but she knows her role, and she has done real well."
Rudolph has become accustomed to the role. "The freshmen are great
players, and so what I have done is just try to be a solid player,"
she said. "I have won so many matches in a row, and being a solid
player is the key because that is what keeps the team winning."
"She has certainly stepped into her role; she is our captain and
she sets the pace of the team," Sampras said. "I think our young
girls look up to her and see how she handles the pressures or the
studies. She has just done real well this season, and that’s her
role, her responsibility. She has worked really hard and deserves
all her success." Rudolph’s success this season has much to do with
her own personal goals and a change in mindset. This season Rudolph
was determined to give it her all in every match. She has used her
experiences to give her confidence. "I think (my success) has to do
with the confidence of having two years under my belt," Rudolph
said. "I have (gone through) mental changes … last year. I played
the same position last year, and the first match I was excited,
would come out and play great and then the next match, I would play
flat. "I was sick of being a 50-percenter. This year I set goals
for myself as far as contributing to the team and a personal goal
to try and get into the NCAA individuals." * * * Hailing from a
family where her father was a major league baseball player and her
brother played in the minors, sports has always been an important
part of Rudolph’s life. Although she started out on the softball
diamond, tennis soon became her top priority. "I played softball,
but then finally I liked tennis and just kept with it," she said.
"I knew I had the most opportunities with tennis, so I slowly
dropped the other sports and stuck with that. I am glad that I did.
"I never really felt pressure. My dad always reminded me that I was
doing this for myself. He has already done it; he does not need to
live through me. I was given an athletic ability, a talent. But it
obviously helps to be in the atmosphere where your family is
athletic." With only one more year left to play, she is realizing
how quickly the season has gone. "This year I am really truly
enjoying it because I know that it’s going to be over so fast. I
know that I only have one more year and it is going to be over
before I know it. So, I am really loving the sport right now." JANA
BONDERMAN Kelly Rudolph during a match in early March.