Bulldogs Women's Tennis Kicks Off Season In Minneapolis
9/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
SPOKANE, Wash. - For the Gonzaga University women's tennis team, the fall season is about working hard and really committing to the goal of challenging in the West Coast Conference for the spring championship season.
"We are continuing to work hard," head coach D.J. Gurule said. "This is a unique year in that we do not have any newcomers. We are pushing the team harder than we have before and they are really responding to the challenge. This fall we want a lot of match experience to improve our game."
The Bulldogs do have one new addition to the program this year, it just isn't a player. Joining Gurule is Caroline Lilley who accepted the assistant coach's position prior to the season.
"The addition of Caroline has been more impactful than bringing a new player could have been," Gurule said. "She comes from a great program at Georgia Tech and brings a wealth of playing experience. More than anything else she brings intensity to get us where we need to be going."
With the strong coaching duo, the Bulldogs have taken a businesslike approach for the four fall tournaments on schedule.
"We have been pushing them hard in work outs," Gurule said. "I think it will pay off at the end of the season. We know what we are doing now and how it will benefit long term. The breaking in period is a little rough right now but it will help us position ourselves come April."
Starting Friday the Zags will compete in the University of Minnesota Gopher Invite held in Minneapolis, Minn. Then Sept. 27 the full squad will travel to Washington State University for the Cougar Classic.
"Everyone will have an opportunity to compete in Pullman," Gurule stated. "It is nice to have a closer tournament we can attend and get a lot of matches in."
The final two tournaments of the fall both take place in California. On Oct. 11 the Bulldogs will compete in the Saint Mary's College Invitational followed by the ITA Regionals in Palo Alto Oct. 18.
"We are going to be getting reps in that we need," Gurule said. "There will be no sophomore slump for this group. There is going to be so much more opportunity for advancement. We should see improvements as the season rolls on."
Gonzaga returns it core including last year's top two singles players Katie Edwards and Kylie Peek. Samantha Polayes figures to play an important role for GU after shattering the singles win record as a freshman with 20 victories. The Bulldogs two German players (Isabell Klingert and Franziska Koehler) built on their successful freshman seasons with strong play in summer tournaments.
"Katie played in a number of summers of the summer and so did Isabell and Franziska," Gurule said. "Some of the players worked on getting healthy which is something we are keeping an eye on. Everyone will be challenging for a spot and the fall should help us build towards our goals."
With a new tennis facility on the horizon the Bulldogs know the spoils they search will be earned in the spring. For now, the focus is to grind and come together as a team.
"Something that we are telling and working on with the team is that we are the same group but will not have the same results," Lilley said. "We are focusing on improving the core group we have so that come the spring they are prepared for every competitive situation. This is a learning process but come spring we will be a united front."
