Women's Tennis At WSU Cougar Classic This Weekend
9/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
THIS WEEKEND: The Gonzaga University women's tennis team travels to Pullman, Wash., to play in the WSU Cougar Classic to open the 2012-13 season. Matches will take place at the WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts. The Bulldogs will compete against 10 other teams including Boise State University, the University of Portland, Eastern Washington University, the University of Montana, Montana State University, Seattle University, Lewis-Clark State College, Lewis and Clark University and the University of Idaho.
FOUR NEWCOMERS: Gonzaga University welcomes four newcomers to the women's team for the 2012-13 season. Two of the four new additions for ninth-year head Coach D.J. Gurule come from Germany and the others from California and Minnesota. Isabell Klingert joins Gonzaga from Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany and Franziska Koehler from Warstein, Germany. Samantha Polayes brings her talents up the west coast from Morgan Hill, Calif., and Melanie Yates comes from New Brighton, Minn.
EIGHT VETERANS RETURN: Eight experienced Gonzaga University women's tennis players return for the 2012-13 season. The returning Zags are seniors Taurie Bjerken, Britta Stime and Prue Teitzel; junior Hanley Caras, and sophomores Sandy Dennett, Katie Edwards, Kylie Peek and Alexandra Tallas.
FALL SCHEDULE: The Gonzaga University women's tennis team will participate in four fall tournaments including the WSU Cougar Classic this weekend. After the trip to Pullman, Wash., the team will host the GU Hidden Duel Sept. 21-23 followed by a trip to Moraga, Calif., for the Saint Mary's Invitational. The fall season closes out with the ITA Regionals in Palo Alto, Calif., on Oct. 19-21.
OTHER THOUGHTS FROM COACH GURULE:
On the fall season...
"The fall tournaments are a good way for us to gauge where we are at and what we need to work on. We are more concerned about getting match experience than the results. This year we have a young team and I am excited to see how our team handles playing somebody besides themselves. It is a good opportunity for us to gain experience and highlight what we need to work on going forward.
"I think bigger than anything else, the fall season will help us determine our spring lineup which looks like it will be changing on a weekly basis with the depth we have. Also, I will be watching our doubles closely. I need to see who plays well together and it is always a challenge finding the right combination of teams."
What he is watching for at the WSU Cougar Classic...
"The big thing is how we compete during the matches and handle adversity. If we play tough opponents, like most of the players coming this weekend, the wins and losses will indicate where we are. We are mostly getting a feel for things and how we walk away win or lose."
"I am very excited about our youth and experience coming together. I think we are ready to play somebody else but each other. It will be nice to get away from campus a bit and spend some time together as a team."
On the seniors and their leadership...
"All three Britta, Prue and Taurie have done a good job of bringing the team together. They are shaping the team how they want it to be. Prue, after playing No. 1 last year, looks solid and you can tell she is working hard. She peaks later in the year than in the fall but right now she looks good. Britta is one of the most organized athletes I have ever seen and she is ready to go. Taurie is playing equally as good and I am really excited to get their senior season underway."
