Second-year Syracuse head coach Luke Jensen and the Orange eye the start of the 2007 season.
Orange Tennis Set For 2007-08 Campaign
9/21/2007 10:25:52 AM | Tennis
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange tennis team, under the direction of second-year SU head coach Luke Jensen, has begun preseason practice and is preparing for the 2007 fall season. The Orange opens competition on Friday, October 5 in New York, N.Y. at the Billie Jean King Tournament.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange tennis team, under the direction of second-year SU head coach Luke Jensen, has begun preseason practice and is preparing for the 2007 fall season. The Orange opens competition on Friday, October 5 in New York, N.Y. at the Billie Jean King Tournament.
“It’s the first day, the first step and the first look at the team as a whole,” said Jensen. “It’s to the point where you can’t sleep at night. You’re excited to get up and see them perform, see how they react with each other, and how they work – all the things that you want in a team that is moving forward and getting better.”
Jensen and second-year assistant coach Shelley George return one letterwinner in junior Maria Vasilyeva and welcome seven newcomers for the 2007-08 campaign. Syracuse defeated St. John’s, Rutgers and DePaul en route to finishing fifth at last year’s BIG EAST Championship. Vasilyeva received BIG EAST All-Tournament team honors.
“You have seven new players that want to be here, that are enthusiastic about being here and want to be great players,” said Jensen. “Our job is now as a coaching staff and it’s what we do this semester. It’s an amazing responsibility as a coaching staff, but it’s an extremely fun challenge. Something why Coach George and I came here – is for that challenge.”
Excitement continues to build among the 2007 team as a foundation for success has been laid following an 11-9 overall record last season. The Orange captured nine of its last 12 matches, including a 6-2 record in the second half of the year.
“We are so excited with being a new team,” said freshman Ashley Spicer. “We’re pumped, fired up and working so hard every day. I think all of us are improving every single day. We’re all working hard and we all respect each other’s game. We’re really pushing each other each and every day.”
“You learn so much every day about ways to compete, what needs to be done and just managing everything,” said freshman Katlyn Haycock.
Following the Billie Jean King Tournament, the Orange head to Norfolk, Va. for the ITA Regional beginning Friday, October 19.
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