The spring season brings high expectations for head coach Phil Rogers and the Virginia women's tennis team. Ranked No. 40 by the preseason ITA Tennis Poll, the Cavaliers believe they can be in the running for the ACC championship.
Losing just two starters and returning five, Virginia hopes to improve on last year's 11-11 record, which featured a NCAA appearance against Kentucky. The Cavaliers lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but hope to bounce back this season.
"We have a very talented team this season," assistant coach Constantine Ananiadis said. "We have very good depth on the team, and we expect to compete in the ACC."
The season has started off well for the Cavaliers - they have won four of their first five matches, including a big matchup against No. 63 Princeton over the weekend. Down for most of the match, the Cavaliers rallied to win over a really good Tigers squad.
"I have been coaching for 20 years and I don't think I've had a better win," Rogers said. "We really fight as a team, as that is one of our trademarks. We have gotten off to one of our better starts in years."
Virginia is led by the preseason 19th-ranked sophomore Henriette Williams, who is the Cavaliers No. 1 seed this spring. Williams had a good fall for the Cavaliers, compiling a 3-2 record in both singles and doubles.
Though Williams has struggled so far this season, the coaches and players expect her to return to top form after a bout with the stomach flu over the weekend.
"Henriette has been playing really well," Rogers said. "She is in shape and has been hitting the ball really well, and working to get in top form. She had an unlucky break coming down with that stomach flu."
Stepping up in Williams' place last weekend was junior Jennifer Tuchband, who has had a marvelous spring so far, starting off 4-2 in singles play. That record includes two big wins over the No. 1 seed players from Princeton and Penn Saturday and Sunday.
Tuchband also had a strong fall for the Cavaliers, including a team best 7-2 in doubles and 5-3 in singles.
"She beat two of the nation's top 40 players," Ananiadis said. "Although she wasn't ranked in the fall, we expect her to be ranked when the new rankings come out on Feb. 20."
The No. 3 seed for most of the year has been Amy O'Donnell, a senior and a co-captain, who has taken a leader's role on the team. She is known for her strong serve and great net game.
O'Donnell continues the trend of great starts for the team, going 4-1 in singles play, including two big wins over the weekend. She has played well in doubles as well, winning three of her five matches with fellow co-captain Christine Kim.
"I can't say enough about how well Amy is playing now," Rogers said. "She has been here four years and really leads the team by example."
The Virginia starters are rounded out by "The Twins," Marta and Dora Bechliwanis, who make up the Cavaliers' freshmen contingent. The identical Canadian twins have given Virginia a spark, with Marta having a team best 5-0 singles record. She also has a team best 12-3 record overall. Dora also has fared well, compiling a 4-1 singles record.
"We have worked really hard to get ready for the season," Marta said, speaking for Dora as well. "We pride ourselves in trying really hard and staying positive when things aren't going our way."
If the players continue to work the way they have so far this season, the Virginia women's tennis team will be in for good things throughout the season because they have the character and heart to come out strong.
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