Spring Break
Women excited to start spring season
Colin McDonough
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Sports
After an 0-1 start to the season in the fall, the UConn women's tennis team is eager to get back to matches this spring. UConn lost 4-3 in their only dual meet in the fall to UMass. Coach Glenn Marshall and the Huskies look to start winning this weekend in West Point, N.Y., in matches against Stony Brook and Army.
Last season, UConn finished 10-8 in the regular season and earned a berth in the Big East Championships.
The Huskies only lost one player from last year but in January and February, the injury bug has been contagious. Freshman Alexa Gregory and sophomore Emily Herb both broke their hands recently.
"Other kids are ready to step in and we are going to be challenged this weekend. Any time you have two starters out of six injured it's going to be tough. Hopefully by spring break both of them will be back," Marshall said.
Although the Huskies lost two starters, depth can be a key for early season success without Gregory or Herb.
"We have a big core of players and the women are more spread out than my men's team. Having a lot of players coming back helps because we still have a lot of experience on the court," said Marshall.
UConn started at Army last year and split the matches. The Huskies beat Stony Brook 5-2 and lost to Army 4-3. Since UConn does not have an indoor tennis facility, practice is in East Hartford and the team is bussed there. Besides the injuries, the Huskies will have to battle adversity through their first month of matches on the road. UConn must travel to play indoors in Chicago and play outdoors in Florida in early March.
"Traveling will be difficult early on, but in late March and April we will have home matches against some rivals which will help us in the Big East," Marshall said.
Last season, UConn finished 10-8 in the regular season and earned a berth in the Big East Championships.
The Huskies only lost one player from last year but in January and February, the injury bug has been contagious. Freshman Alexa Gregory and sophomore Emily Herb both broke their hands recently.
"Other kids are ready to step in and we are going to be challenged this weekend. Any time you have two starters out of six injured it's going to be tough. Hopefully by spring break both of them will be back," Marshall said.
Although the Huskies lost two starters, depth can be a key for early season success without Gregory or Herb.
"We have a big core of players and the women are more spread out than my men's team. Having a lot of players coming back helps because we still have a lot of experience on the court," said Marshall.
UConn started at Army last year and split the matches. The Huskies beat Stony Brook 5-2 and lost to Army 4-3. Since UConn does not have an indoor tennis facility, practice is in East Hartford and the team is bussed there. Besides the injuries, the Huskies will have to battle adversity through their first month of matches on the road. UConn must travel to play indoors in Chicago and play outdoors in Florida in early March.
"Traveling will be difficult early on, but in late March and April we will have home matches against some rivals which will help us in the Big East," Marshall said.
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