April 21, 2004
SPOKANE, Wash. - For Gonzaga University women's tennis player Jamie Buterbaugh, tennis isn't just a sport, it's her No. 1 pastime.
Buterbaugh, a 5-10 senior from Scottsdale, Ariz., and her father Dave, a certified public accountant, compete in family tournaments as a father/daughter doubles team and are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation.
"Both my parents still play competitive tennis around the southwest," Buterbaugh said. "My mom, Trish, has been my coach since I have been able to walk."
It started with the Sedona Family Tournament in 1994 and took on a snowball effect over the years. The tandem has played in competitive tournaments for the past two years, taking the No. 1 seed to a 7-5 third set loss in their first national tournament and posting a fourth place finish in their second national tournament.
"We gained a lot of confidence through the years," Buterbaugh said. "My dad first carried me through the competitions, and now I carry him through it."
Recently, the duo finished second at Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, Mass., on grass courts.
"We beat the former national champions in three of the last four years and the defending indoor champions on the same day to get to the finals," Buterbaugh said.
Also on the Buterbaughs' resume is the LaJolla City Championships, claiming the title of one of the most prestigious southern California tournaments.
The overall national champion is crowned by the United States Tennis Association at the end of the year based on overall performance on different surfaces.
The Buterbaughs have competed on three surfaces including clay, hard and grass courts.
"We played a girl that was ranked in the top ten in the world on a surface we had never competed on before," Buterbaugh said. "(Professional tennis player) Mardi Fish's dad and sister defeated us and won it all, but we took third."
Jamie and Dave aren't the only Buterbaughs out on the court. It is truly a family affair.
"My mom is a teaching pro in Scottsdale," said Buterbaugh. "Both of my younger sisters also play competitive tennis and hope to play for a Division I school someday. My (16-year-old) sister is looking to take my place on the courts with my dad."
When it came to looking for colleges, Gonzaga University actually came looking for Buterbaugh.
"A former Gonzaga player suggested that a coach recruit me," Buterbaugh said. "I had such an amazing recruiting trip that I knew after I left that I wanted to come to Gonzaga and be a part of its tennis team."
Buterbaugh proved to be a good fit for the Bulldogs, capturing the No. 1 spot three of her four years.
"The tennis program has improved immensely since my freshman year," said Buterbaugh. "We have gotten more recognition by the school and our program has acquired more scholarships to bring in stronger players."
Buterbaugh not only excels on the courts, but in the classroom as well. She will graduate after four years in May, 2004, with a 3.00 GPA in Business with both international business and supply chain management concentrations.
"I still play on staying very involved with tennis after graduation," Buterbaugh said. "I am looking at the possibility of being a graduate assistant coach somewhere while I get my MBA."
Heading into the West Coast Conference Championships on April 23-25, Buterbaugh holds a 13-8 dual match record in the No. 1 spot for Gonzaga, posting a 14-6 doubles record with senior teammate Angela Fry. The Bulldogs have already made strides this season, posting 11 wins for the first time since 2001.
"I expect us to do better than we have ever done in school history," Buterbaugh says of the tournament. "We are a deep, strong team with a lot of experience. We have five seniors on the team this year, and we want to end our careers by making it the best season ever."
