Women's tennis

Women of Troy continue rebuilding with shutout

By Jeff Kothe
Staff Writer

Throughout the first eight matches of the 1998 season, the USC women's tennis team has done nothing but improve. The latest step in the Women of Troy's rebuilding process was a dominating, 7-0 victory over San Diego State on Saturday afternoon at Marks Tennis Stadium.
It was the second shutout of the season for USC, an indication of the steps the Women of Troy have taken to flush away the memories of an injury-plagued 1997 campaign in which they won only 10 matches, none of which were in the Pacific 10 Conference.
USC blanked UC Santa Barbara, 8-0, in its season opener Jan. 23 for its other shutout.
The win improved No. 26 USC to 5-3 overall, and No. 21 SDSU fell to 2-3. It was the first win over a higher-ranked opponent for USC, whose three losses have come to higher-ranked teams in the Pac-10.
Despite the lopsided outcome, the match was relatively close, as all but one singles match was extended to three sets and the one doubles match ended at 9-8.
USC No. 1 singles player Ditta Huber beat Sarah Donovan, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, to get back in the win column after two straight losses. Huber evened her dual-season record at 4-4 with the victory.
No. 2 player Veronika Safarova downed Maggie Cole, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, to improve to 6-2 in duals play this spring and 11-6 overall, including last fall.
USC sophomore Jacqui Boyd, playing in her familiar No. 3 position, remained unbeaten this spring with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 win over Dorota Wozniak.
Boyd is the only undefeated player for USC at 8-0 in dual competition and 11-4 overall for the year.
Kara Warkentin, a sophomore transfer from Fresno State, improved to 6-2 in her first semester at USC with a 6-2, 6-2 win over San Diego's Jeanette Bhagundas.
Warkentin has been the biggest surprise for USC, as she has been forced to contribute immediately while other key players remain sidelined with various injuries.
Playing in the No. 5 slot for the first time this spring, Karolina Bakalarova beat Merete Lindahl, 7-6, 1-6, 6-2, to win her fourth dual match and even her dual record to 4-4. She is now 4-7 overall on the year.
Senior Amber Basica, who was expected to be a utility player at the season's outset but is now a regular starter due to the injuries on the team, also improved her dual record to 4-4 with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-0 win over Whitney Wells.
The Women of Troy all boast individual dual records of .500 or better. Three players have a mark of 4-4, two have a 6-2 record, and Boyd has a perfect 8-0 mark. A year ago, these types of records would have been thought impossible for USC and Head Coach Richard Gallien.
Singles play has been the key to USC's success this spring, as the doubles play has been the main Achilles heel for the Women of Troy so far.
In its three losses, USC went into the doubles play either behind or tied after singles play, and then was manhandled in the doubles competition, which decided the match.
But that was not the case Saturday, as Safarova and Warkentin beat Cole and Lisa Papi of SDSU, 9-8, to finish the shutout.
The other two doubles matches were canceled after USC wrapped up the win.
USC will have a week-long break before its next match on Sunday against another non-conference opponent, Nevada-Las Vegas.