Tennis team hoping to have best season ever
Aaron Morton, sports editor
The 2001 Utah State men’s and women’s tennis teams hope to build on last season’s talent under the direction of eight-year head coach Chris Wright.
“The team is the best that I have seen since I have been here,” Wright said. “Talent-wise we’re better, and team unity is strong.”
With four returning male seniors and one returning female, the teams will face some tough competition when their season opens on Jan. 25 at the Sports Academy in Logan. Wright said the Aggies will have their work cut out for them against rivals Brigham Young University, Weber State University and the University of Utah.
“Every match will be a battle,” he said. “I can’t see one easy match on the schedule.”
The teams will participate in 18 matches this season. Some, like those in Nevada, California and Hawaii, will require the teams to travel, which will be a first for the teams this year.
Andy Madersbacher, a junior from Austria, is playing at the No. 1 spot on the men’s team and is currently ranked 12th in the region, which consists of 30 teams and 150 players. Wright said that if he continues to play the way he has, he can easily reach the top 100 in the nation.
Sarah Lowe, a junior, is playing No. 1 for the women and has been at that position since her freshman year.
The women are looking strong this year with a solid lineup in the middle.
“We are deeper on the women side of things,” Wright said. “We have really strengthened our lineup in the middle at the two, three, and four spots strengthening the whole team all-around.”
Players from both teams have been preparing for the season by playing in off-season tournaments, hitting the weights and focusing on cardiovascular activities.
“Tennis is a mental game,” Wright said. “If you haven’t played in tournaments in a while it can be intimidating standing on the court with a ball coming at you at 120 miles per hour.”
“Any sport at a high level is fun to watch,” he said. “Anybody who has never seen tennis at this level and in person is missing out. When the ball travels at 120 mph, it’s amazing to see the control and the skills of the players.”
Although some women have minor injuries, both teams will be ready for the season opener next week, he said.
USU’s first meet will be Jan. 25 when the women take on Colorado State University. The men’s first action will be Jan. 19 in Salt Lake City against Utah.