.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Gear Up For Spring With Two Weekend Matches
January 23, 2004 | Women's Tennis
Jan. 23, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University women's tennis team opens the "spring" portion of the 2003-04 season with a pair of matches this weekend. The Falcons of head coach Penny Dean will head to East Lansing, Mich., for a Saturday (Jan. 24) dual vs. Michigan State University. The match is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
Then, on Sunday (Jan. 25), BGSU returns to Northwest Ohio to take on Youngstown State University. The Falcons and Penguins will do battle at high noon at the Shadow Valley Tennis Club in Maumee.
Two years ago, a youthful BGSU women's tennis team took some lumps as the players gained experience.
Last season, the Falcons surprised some people around the Mid-American Conference, finishing two spots higher than predicted.
Now, in 2003-04, head coach Penny Dean and her squad, with seven upperclass players on the 11-woman team, look to take the next step toward the MAC's upper echelon.
Last year's edition of the Falcons, picked to finish seventh in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, placed fifth in the league standings. BGSU doubled the overall win total of the previous season, finishing 10-11 in dual-match play.
For the second consecutive season, Dean lost only one player. She will look to her veterans to keep the program moving in a positive direction.
"We have a good nucleus of experienced players," said Dean, in her 14th season at the BGSU helm. "Last year, I thought we stepped it up a little bit from the previous year. And now, we want to do that again.
"We have a lot of players who kind of jumped right into the fire at the beginning of their careers. Now, they all have gained experience, they have improved and they know what to expect.
"We will be looking to improve, both on our record and our MAC finish. I feel like, following the fall season, we are in a good position to do just that."
Dean has nine of last year's 10 letterwinners returning, including the players that occupied the top-two singles spots a year ago. Senior co-captain Lisa Maloney and junior Susie Schoenberger likely will remain in those positions in Dean's lineup.
Maloney, a co-captain for the second consecutive year, was slowed by injury for much of last spring. Schoenberger primarily played at the top singles flight last season, with the two teaming in doubles.
"Both Lisa and Susie are motivated to have a great year," said Dean. "I think the experience and chemistry they gained playing together (last year and in the fall) should help them this year."
Another veteran, along with one of Dean's two newcomers, is slated for the middle of the singles lineup. Senior Gaby Coello and freshman Ashley Jakupcin will be vying for the third and fourth singles slots.
Coello led the Falcons with 25 overall victories last season, and picked up 13 more wins in the fall. Jakupcin burst onto the scene, leading the team with a 10-2 singles record and tying for the BGSU lead with 17 overall wins in the fall of 2003.
"Gaby is very talented, and she has improved every year," said Dean. "Additionally, she has improved her play indoors, which is imporant.
"In (her native) Ecuador, Gaby didn't have to play indoors, but indoor matches are a big part of our season. And, she is ready. She has become a hard worker, and she knows what it takes to be successful.
"Ashley is what I would refer to as a grinder. She just has such a strong determination. She had a great fall, and I think she can build upon that. We will continue to work on making her physically stronger, as she adjusts to the college game."
Coello and Jakupcin also will team up to form one of Dean's doubles teams.
Following the aforementioned four players, there are a great many Falcons that could fill out the remainder of the singles lineup. Senior Jessica Johnson, juniors Cameron Benjamin and Laura Kokinda and sophomores Andrea Meister and Heidi Romer are among the candidates.
"We have a lot of depth, and a lot of people that could step right into the lineup," said Dean. "It is a good problem to have, but it is difficult as a coach, because everyone could be in there.
"I really think that, assuming that everyone is healthy and able to play, we will be very strong at the bottom of the lineup."
Benjamin had a shoulder injury in the fall, but finished with a 6-0, 6-0 singles win in dual-match play.
"I don't think Cam's fall performance was indicative of how she can play," said her coach. "She worked hard on her game over the summer, and had some good tournament results. She now has a better understanding of the game, and of the strategy involved."
Romer and Meister teamed in doubles during their initial year at BG, and gained some valuable experience. Romer tied for the team lead with 17 overall wins in the fall, and Meister had seven wins in both singles and doubles to start her sophomore season.
"Heidi and Andrea each are much improved," said Dean. "Andrea may be the most improved player on the team, and has a very good shot at being in the singles lineup.
"Heidi, obviously, has dealt with pressure very well. In back-to-back matches last year, she was the final player on the court in a third set, knowing that a BGSU win came down to her result.
"Both times, she came through with a win. She really thrived under the pressure, and I look for her to hold down a spot in the singles lineup."
Meister and Romer are again slated to play together in doubles.
Johnson and Kokinda provide valuable leadership, both on and off the court, for the Falcons. Johnson missed much of the fall due to injury, but picked up some victories in BG's two dual matches to close the fall season.
Kokinda, chosen by her teammates to be a co-captain as just a junior, had seven singles victories in the fall.
"Jessica, as a senior, is still very motivated," said Dean. "Sometimes, when kids are approaching the end of their career, they start looking ahead to other matters. But, Jess is still very focused on her tennis.
"She has a good chance to crack our singles lineup, and will team with Cam to give us four strong doubles teams.
"Laura is right there with the rest of them, too. She is playing very well right now, and I expect her to see a lot of action.
"Laura brings a lot of intangibles as well, providing leadership and setting a good example for her teammates. Those are big reasons why she was elected a co-captain."
Junior Lindsey Mix and freshman Erica Wolfe round out the roster, and will look for playing time as well.
"Lindsay has been bothered by a chronic back problem," said the coach. "That could slow her, or hamper her playing time, in the spring.
"Erica has been a delight. She did not have the experience that some other players had prior to college, but is an extremely hard worker, and is following the example of her teammates.
"She is still adjusting to collegiate tennis, but she is very athletic and talented, and she will help us down the road."
As always, Dean hopes that the Falcons steadily improve as the months progress, culminating with the MAC Tournament in DeKalb, Ill., in late April.
"We want to be playing our best at tournament time, of course," said the coach. "But, we also want to be playing well all through the MAC's regular season, because we will be playing for positioning.
"There are a couple of teams at the top of the league that are very, very strong. But, there are a lot of teams in that next group that could finish just about anywhere. There really is amazing parity in the MAC.
"We have a lot of matches on our schedule that will challenge us, but that is part of what makes it so fun. We just want to keep improving as a team, draw on our past experiences, and be in the hunt when crunch time rolls around."
