Complete Bracket in PDF Format 
Sept. 23, 2010
SPOKANE, Wash. - Coming off a school-record 14-win season last spring, the Gonzaga University women's tennis team opens the 2010-11 season this weekend at Washington State University's Cougar Classic in Pullman with a familiar look.
With no seniors on the roster last year, all 12 Bulldogs are returning, including All-West Coast Conference honorable mention honorees Clare Dodge, Rika Mehndiratta and Prue Teitzel. In addition, the Bulldogs added two newcomers.
"It's great to have such a large number of players returning this year," said Gonzaga seventh-year head coach D.J. Gurule. "It gives us a great opportunity to build on last year's successful season."
Gurule believes the fall tournaments will also be good for the Bulldogs to get an idea of what they need to work on prior to beginning duel competition in the spring.
"The fall is a good opportunity for our players to knock some rust off as well as getting some of our newer players some match time," Gurule said.
The Bulldogs have four seniors - Dodge, Mehndiratta, Danielle Farmer and Jackie Tabb. Mehndiratta, who earned her second consecutive All-WCC honorable mention honor, posted a team 12-win season in singles, second-best on the team, and 10 were in the No. 1 spot. In addition, Mehndiratta and Farmer recorded a team second best 10-win season in doubles, second best on the team.
Also returning to the Zags this year are juniors Sophie Lantta and Kristina Zauere while Teitzel, Taurie Bjerken, Britta Stime and Gabrielle Verspieren begin their sophomore campaigns. Teitzel recorded a team-best 14-3 record in singles last season. Zauere posted an 11-9 overall record with 10 of those victories in the No. 2 spot. Zauere and Dodge were paired together all season and recorded a team-best 14-6 record in doubles.
This year also marks the return of redshirt sophomore Madeline Parker, who missed last season due to injury. In the 2008-09 season, Parker went 3-6 in singles but posted an 8-1 record in doubles.
The two newcomers, Hanley Caras and Kelly Humphrey, will look to get a good jump out of the gate in their young careers. Humphrey is the younger sister of Erin Humphrey, who played for the Bulldogs from 2004-08.
The other tournaments slated this fall will be the Gonzaga University/Eastern Washington University Classic next weekend held in Cheney, Wash., the Saint Mary's College Fall Invitational Oct. 8-10 in Moraga, Calif. and the USTA/ITA Regional Oct. 22-26 held in Stanford, Calif.
