|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Rice Thresher
Phone:
|
by Eric Raub thresher staff
The Owls came into the match against Marshall off three straight 7-0 sweeps, but were surprised by the unranked Thundering Herd. "Marshall was quite a bit stronger than I thought," head coach Paul Blankenship said. "Programs like that can load up from year to year and, boom, they're as good as any top 75 teams. I'd be awful surprised if they don't finish ranked." The Owls' match against Marshall was their first in nearly a month, and their three previous matches were against subpar competition. The team says it took some time to regain its focus - time that gave Marshall the edge needed to take home the upset win. "I don't think we all got out there as sharp as we could have been," junior Natalie Briaud said. "Once we got into it we all fought hard, but initially we started out a little slow." The problems only continued against No. 74 UTEP. Rain, which caused the cancellation of the Owls' match Feb. 28 against Stephen F. Austin State University, was a factor again. The match was moved indoors after doubles play. UTEP had won all three doubles matches and the Owls were already down a point. UTEP went on to claim the top four singles matches and the 5-2 victory. "UTEP was a big disappointment," junior Kylie Wallis said. "We've been looking forward to playing them all year. They're kind of our rival since they're in our conference and always ranked about where we are." The Owls believe the key to getting where they want to be is to not get discouraged, but instead keep working and wait for the payoff. "On both days the team fought really hard," Wallis said. "It's frustrating because we don't want to lose after all this hard work. We think our hard work will only lead to good things in the future." A constant concern for the Owls is getting and keeping all of their players healthy. They have had both good and bad news in the injury arena. "We had to default [senior] Erin Waters in her match against UTEP," Blankenship said. "She had a ligament problem in her knee. A girl had something like it last year and was out for five weeks so we thought it best to take her out after doubles. [Freshman] Annie Goodrich is back and able to play, and [sophomore] Jeri Gonzales seems to be back and doing pretty good." Even though the Owls now find themselves 6-6 and facing a drop in the rankings, they believe they can still position themselves for an invitation to the NCAA tournament if they can take advantage of opportunities coming their way in the next eight matches before the WAC Championships. After facing the University of North Texas Sunday at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium, the Owls have the opportunity to break through with a big win over No. 47 Tulane University next Saturday in another home match. "We've got some outcome goals and we're in a hole," Blankenship said. "But that doesn't mean we can't reach them. We just have to take advantage of our opportunities."
- back - |
|||
|
Search the Thresher pages:
This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu |
