With the start of the Pac-10 season looming just a week away,
the UCLA women’s tennis team will look to regroup this
weekend without its No. 1 singles player.
The No. 11 Bruins (4-2) will take the court against No. 22
Fresno State (1-0) this Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center
sans Daniela Bercek, who suffered a strained shoulder during
UCLA’s opening round exit in the ITA National Women’s
Team Indoor Championships last Thursday.
“Everyone needs to step up,” UCLA coach Stella
Sampras Webster said. “With (Bercek) not playing, everyone
will have to play up a spot and out of position, but we’re
feeling confident.”
The Bruins will look for momentum from this weekend’s
match to carry over into the start of a tough Pac-10 schedule after
stumbling to a 1-2 record last week in Madison, Wisc.
“It was definitely a learning experience,” Sampras
Webster said.
“It was a very draining tournament. We had a lot of
matches that could have gone either way and didn’t go our
way.
“Hopefully, our players will learn from their experience
so that when these situations come up again, we’ll be able to
win those matches.”
Bercek, who sustained her injury during the Bruins’ 4-3
loss to now No. 10 Miami, was evaluated by a team doctor and her
injury revealed no tears or other major damages. However, it may be
a few matches before Bercek can return to the court.
“She’s been out before, and we’ve done
OK,” said freshman Riza Zalameda, who will step into the No.
1 spot in Bercek’s absence. “But we’re a team and
we should be able to pull through if she can’t
play.”
On the other side of the court, Fresno State has its own
problems at the top of its lineup. Jelena Pandzic, the
Bulldog’s No. 1 singles player, was recently ruled ineligible
by the NCAA due to her participation in a tennis league in Germany
before enrolling at Fresno State.
But despite the Bulldogs’ loss, the Bruins now know they
can’t take any opponent lightly.
“We want to build from this match,” Sampras Webster
said. “Fresno is strong. They have some good players that
will push our girls, but we’re feeling good about our
chances.”
The Bruins narrowly defeated the Bulldogs 4-3 last year at the
LATC.