Virginia fans who are disappointed with the woes of the basketball team and other Cavalier teams and wish to find solaceshould look into Virginia women's tennis.Buoyed by the arrival of a recruiting class loaded with talent, coach Phil Rogers' women's tennis squad has embarked on its 2005 campaign with high hopes of improving upon an 11-12 record compiled during the 2004 season.
The main reason for optimism is the arrival of freshman Diana Srebrovic. Srebrovic, who hails from Ontario, earned a No. 67 national preseason singles ranking and a No. 23 ranking in doubles with her partner Douglas Wink, a junior transfer from the University of Georgia.
"Diana is a world class player, and she is going to be able to compete with everybody she plays against, no question about it," said Rogers. "What separates her from a lot of other talented tennis players is she's got the talent, yet she is also very coachable and wants to get better. A lot of times you have these talented kids who are just aren't quite as coachable and as dedicated as she is."
Srebrovic displays a high degree of confidence in her own abilities and the abilities of her teammates.
"We're going to be pretty good this year," Srebrovic said. "Everyone on our team this year is really strong. I have a couple of personal goals, nothing major. I'm just trying to get the feel of things right now."
When pressed on what her own personal goals were, she answered without hesitation.
"I'd like to be top in the country in the NCAAs," Srebrovic said.
The co-captains of the team are seniors Dora and Marta Bechliwanis, twins who also hail from Ontario. The Bechliwanis twins are the only seniors on the this season's roster.
"I think we've all come together as leaders," junior Kristen James said. "With so many new people and with everybody adding so much to the team, we come together and learn from each other."
Rogers noted several key differences between this year's squad and last year's.
"We have a lot of depth this year," Rogers said. "We have many new players and several important players back from last year."
This year's new players include Srebrovic, Wink, freshmen Lindsey Pereira, Jessy Firth-Morais and walk-on Rachel DelPriore. Rogers also noted the addition of assistant coach Jon Reeves.
"Jon is a really good and knowledgeable tennis person who understands me and vice versa," Rogers said. "We're really happy to have him."
Virginia has begun the season with a victory over Michigan State and a loss to No. 6 Vanderbilt. Virginia's next match is Feb. 5 at home against Old Dominion. The jury is still out as to what this team is capable of achieving. But with the infusion of new talent, these lady Cavaliers have the potential to make a name for themselves in the ACC.
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