Fresno State Athletics
WAC Women's Tournament Preview: Bulldogs One of Many With Title Hopes
4/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 20, 2005
- Tournament Notes/Bracket (PDF)
HONOLULU - After leading his Fresno State women's tennis team to its third WAC title in a row last year, first-year head coach Simon Thibodeau insisted that just because victory was expected, that didn't make it any less enjoyable.
In fact, his tune sounded similar to the one sung by Kevin Epley when he coached the Bulldogs to league crowns in 2002 and '03. Epley departed for William and Mary prior to the 2004 season; Thibodeau took over, and neither the results nor the expectations changed.
But this year is much different. For the first time since 2000, Fresno State does not enter the WAC Tournament as the top seed (that would be Rice). The Bulldogs aren't even the hottest team in the league (that's SMU). And for a change, they don't have the best player in the conference (honors to Rice's Blair DiSesa).
What this team does have, however, is experience. Four of Fresno State's top six players returned from last year's team that reached the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament, where they suffered a narrow 4-2 loss to host Georgia. Seniors Lucia Tallo and Courtney Jantz both have three WAC rings apiece while Katharina Winterhalter and Lucia Sainz each own two. That's enough bling to blind any opponent.
And it may very well be experience that guides Fresno State through an uncharacteristically deep field this week. As many as four teams begin play Thursday dreaming of taking the conference title back across the Pacific - SMU, Rice, Tulsa and, yes, Fresno State.
While the Bulldogs sputtered like an old jalopy through much of 2005, they seem to be peaking at just the right time. Fresno State won its last five matches, all in dominating fashion, and are heading to Honolulu confident of becoming the first team since BYU from 1992-96 to claim as many as four WAC Tournament titles in a row.
To do so, they will need to continue to ride the coattails of Winterhalter, who closed the regular season playing some of the best tennis of her career. In her last five singles matches, all wins, the junior lost only 12 games total while seeing her national ranking move up to No. 88 (she peaked at 71st in February). In doubles, Winterhalter has also been exceptional, teaming with Fadzai Masiyazi to go 12-2 at No. 3.
This week also serves as an opportunity for Tallo to stamp her career as one of the most successful in program history. Already in Fresno State's top five in all-time singles wins, Tallo is hoping to become the first Bulldog ever to win four league titles in four years. A perennial member of the President's List (3.8 GPA and above), Tallo has suffered through a difficult senior campaign riddled with shoulder and wrist ailments. But knowing each match could be her last ever may have an inspirational effect on the Swiss native.
The second-seeded Bulldogs begin play Thursday at 6 p.m. PT (3 p.m. HT) and will take on the winner of No. 7 UTEP and No. 10 Nevada, which square off in a "play-in" match early Thursday morning. Fresno State has won nine straight WAC Tournament matches and has won its last 17 against current league teams.
WAC Men's Tennis Tournament Preview
RiceReceives first round bye
- Seed: 1st
- Record: 14-8
- National Ranking:
- Head Coach: Roger White
- Last WAC Title: Never won
While Rice enters the tournament as the top seed, the team didn't exactly inspire confidence down the stretch, splitting its final six matches. One of those losses was a surprisingly easy 6-1 defeat at the hands of SMU. Just as concerning for head coach Roger White is a 4-3 home loss to Southeastern Louisiana on March 26. All that aside, Rice does deserve the No. 1 seed by virtue of its national ranking (44th) and resume-highlighting victories over 16th-ranked Tulane and LSU. The Owls also own an advantage over just about every team (save perhaps Fresno State) at No. 1 singles, where nationally-ranked Blair DiSesa went 13-6.
Rice notes of note: The Owls will play the winner of the Louisiana Tech/San Jose State match in the quarterfinals ... Rice has lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Fresno State the past two years ... the Owls are in search of a first ever WAC Tournament title in their last year as a WAC member ... if Rice is vulnerable, it's at Nos. 2 and 5 singles, where the team has gone a combined 19-19 this year ... rice, the food, not the school, is a staple of many meals in Honolulu.
Fresno State
Receives first round bye
- Seed: 2nd
- Record: 13-8
- National Ranking: 53rd
- Head Coach: Simon Thibodeau
- Last WAC Title: 2004 (three-time defending champs)
While top-seeded Rice is entering on a bit of skid, Fresno State comes steaming into the postseason on a season-long five-match winning streak. The Bulldogs, who are attempting to become the first school since BYU (1992-96) to win at least four WAC titles in a row, lately have been following the lead of Katharina Winterhalter, who has won five straight, dropping only 12 games total in the process. For most of the year, the shadow of Jelena Pandzic's ineligibility has been cast over the team. But with Tuesday's announcement that any hopes of her reinstatement are dead, perhaps Fresno State can circle the wagons and post a fifth WAC title.
Fresno State notes of note: This year marks the first time since 2000 the Bulldogs are not the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament ... Fresno State has dealt with injuries and illness a good majority of the season. Currently, Lucia Tallo (shoulder, wrist) and Jacqui Haskett (shoulder, ankle) are nursing ailments while Lucia Tallo (sick) plays at less than 100 percent ... Fresno State owns a nine-match WAC Tournament winning streak as well as a 17-match winning streak against current members of the league.
SMU
Plays Hawaii in the first round (Thursday, 3 p.m. PT / noon HT)
- Seed: 3rd
- Record: 14-9
- National Ranking:
- Head Coach: Rob Howarth
- Last WAC Title: Never won
Looking for a team that finished strong? Search no further than SMU, which enters the WAC Tournament as the league's hottest bunch. The Mustangs won eight in a row to finish the regular season, perhaps no win as big as their 6-1 shellacking of Rice on April 9. In fact, during their streak, SMU won its matches by a combined score of 48-8. Expect the Mustangs to advance to the semifinals, most likely setting up a big showdown with three-time defending champion Fresno State, which knocked off SMU in Fresno on March 17. In fact, that was the last time the Mustangs lost a match.
SMU notes of note: The Mustangs lost to Fresno State in the 2002 and '04 championship matches ... last year, SMU pressed the Bulldogs but ended up narrowly falling 4-2 ... while not outstanding at No. 1, the Mustangs are extremely good at Nos. 2 and 6, going 16-7 and 18-4, respectively, at the two spots ... SMU was the host of last year's WAC Tournament.
Tulsa
Plays Boise State in the first round (Thursday, 3 p.m. PT / noon HT)
- Seed: 4th
- Record: 11-11
- National Ranking:
- Head Coach: Paige McMurray
- Last WAC Title: Never won
Like its future Conference USA counterparts SMU, Rice and UTEP, Tulsa has never won a WAC title. Will this be the year? Well, TU did finish strong, winning five of its last six. And Fresno State head coach Simon Thibodeau has said they are a team to watch out for. Two pretty good reasons to give them a shot of at least reaching the finals, although in order to do so the Hurricane will probably be required to beat Rice, something they couldn't do during the regular season. But if you're looking for an upset, that could be the place.
TU notes of note: Talk about your peaks and valleys - Tulsa started 4-0, proceeded to lose 10 of its next 13 and then finished by winning five of the last six ... want to impress your friends at parties? Tell them you know Daniela Muscolino went 15-4 this year at No. 1 singles for the Golden Hurricane ... Tulsa reached the 2003 finals before losing to Fresno State.
Boise State
Plays Tulsa in the first round (Thursday, 3 p.m. PT / noon HT)
- Seed: 5th
- Record: 14-7
- National Ranking: Not ranked
- Head Coach: Mark Tichenor
- Last WAC Title: Never won
Boise State has been in Honolulu longer than any other visiting team, having arrived Monday for the regular season finale on Tuesday against Hawaii. What will that mean? Maybe nothing. But then again, perhaps something for a team that won its last seven in a row to finish up. Of course, those victories came against the likes of Cal State Fullerton, Montana State and Idaho - not exactly the blue-bloods of women's college tennis. Nonetheless, expect a spirited effort from Boise State, which does own the distinction of playing top-seeded Rice to a close 4-3 defeat in Houston on March 18.
BSU notes of note: A panel of experts has voted Boise State's Appleton Tennis Center the second-best in the Western Athletic Conference, behind only Tulsa's Michael Case Tennis Center ... in case you were wondering, Boise State's tennis courts are not blue like the football field ... Carolina Pongratz was BSU's most successful player this year. She went 24-10 overall and 14-4 in duals.
Hawaii
Plays SMU in the first round (Thursday, noon PT / 9 a.m. HT)
- Seed: 6th
- Record: 9-13
- National Ranking: Not ranked
- Head Coach: Carolyn Katayama
- Last WAC Title: Never won
Sometimes success needs to be measured in baby steps rather than championships won and NCAA Tournament invitations. Such is the case for Hawaii, which perennially has been one of the lowest seeded teams in the WAC Tournament. But this year, the Rainbow Wahine enter as the No. 6 seed (out of 10 teams) and feature Lauren Fitzgerald, which spent the majority of the season in the national singles rankings. Not bad for a program that has seen more dark clouds than silver linings in recent years. She won't win WAC Coach of the Year, but Carolyn Katayama's done a nice job with this team.
UH notes of note: Unlike many UH teams, the Rainbow Wahine weren't afraid to venture off the island this year. They played 13 of their 23 matches on the road, winning six of them ... Fitzgerald, who played No. 1 all year, went 18-10 overall.
UTEP
Plays Nevada in an opening round match (Thursday, noon PT / 9 a.m. HT)
- Seed: 7th
- Record: 6-13
- National Ranking: Not ranked
- Head Coach: Jamie Campbell
- Last WAC Title: Never won
Saying UTEP had some trouble down the stretch is sort of like saying General Motors had some small financial issues in the first quarter of 2005. The Miners wrapped up the spring by losing their last 10 matches, none being closer than a 5-2 score. UTEP earned the No. 7 seed in the tournament primarily because of a win over Nevada during the regular season. And lo and behold, it's Miners vs. Wolf Pack in the opening round this year. The winner will play Fresno State in the first round.
UTEP notes of note: None of the Miners' singles regulars had a winning record this year ... according to the latest WAC notes, UTEP played only four home matches the entire year. We'd love to get an answer as to why the Miners spent so much time on the road ... proving yet again you can't just waltz into El Paso and expect to get a win in women's tennis, UTEP was a perfect 4-0 at home in 2005.
Louisiana Tech
Plays San Jose State in an opening round match (Thursday, noon PT / 9 a.m. HT)
- Seed: 8th
- Record: 9-10
- National Ranking: Not ranked
- Head Coach: Terrance DeJongh
- Last WAC Title: Never won
This is all we're going to say about Louisiana Tech's chances at the WAC Tournament - they lost to a junior college last week.
Tech notes of note: With the WAC Tournament being hosted by Honolulu, it brings up an interesting question: Does any conference in the nation other than the WAC offer cities on more polar opposites of the spectrum than Ruston, La., and Honolulu? ... La Tech played no matches outside of the Central Time Zone this year. If the Techsters took the court, it was in either 1) Arkansas; 2) Texas; or 3) Louisiana.
San Jose State
Plays Louisiana Tech in an opening round match (Thursday, noon PT / 9 a.m. HT)
- Seed: 9th
- Record: 7-10
- National Ranking: Not ranked
- Head Coach: Anh-Dao Ngyuen
- Last WAC Title: Never won
It's a good news/bad news proposition this week for San Jose State. The good news is that they beat a junior college team last week. The bad news is that they are still somehow seeded below Louisiana Tech, which lost to a junior college team last week.
SJSU notes of note: We're not sure if there's a big rivalry between San Jose State and Sonoma State, but if there was, the Spartans would have serious bragging rights. They beat Sonoma State twice this year.
Nevada
Plays UTEP in an opening round match (Thursday, noon PT / 9 a.m. HT)
- Seed: 10th
- Record: 3-10
- National Ranking: Not ranked
- Head Coach: Jay Stearley (interim)
- Last WAC Title: Never won
It was a tough year for Nevada, which saw its head coach Kurt Richter resign mid-way through the campaign. Even the most cold-hearted of cynics don't enjoy seeing a team struggle like the Wolf Pack did in 2005, so even if they do lose in their first match, here's hoping for a fun time for the Nevada women's tennis team while in Honolulu.
Nevada notes of note: Nevada's only victories this year came against Weber State, Gonzaga and Idaho State ... as their male counterparts do, the Pack women struggle due to lack of a home facility. Consequently, Nevada was able to schedule just one match in Reno all year ... the Wolf Pack (yes, it's two words) lost to their first round opponent, UTEP, 7-0 during the regular season.
