It is a cliché in sports but nevertheless an apt observation that a new season wipes the slate clean. After suffering one of the worst seasons in the program's history last year (6-15), the Virginia women's tennis team must be glad that this particular saying is true.
Last year, the Cavaliers performed dismally in the ACC, compiling a 2-8 record and losing to Florida State in the conference championships. The team was without the services of their No. 1 singles player, Diana Srebrovic, halfway through the season after she made known her intentions to transfer to the Florida Gators. Add to this the retirement of long time coach Phil Rodgers at the end of the season and it was clear that things would be very different for the team in the coming year.
The hiring of former Kentucky coach Mark Guilbeau, the 2005 ITA national coach of the year, appears to have revitalized the program. Virginia is off to its best start since 2002 with a 3-0 record, already halfway to last year's six wins. The Cavaliers have dominated their opponents, recording wins of 6-1, 6-1 and 7-0 against the likes of Princeton, Richmond and Old Dominion, respectively.
"It's great to start 3-0," Guilbeau said. "It's good for these girls because they haven't been through a process where they have won a lot of matches in the beginning of the season. They are seeing the results of their practices."
Guilbeau is happy with the effort the team has been putting into improving their games.
"They've shown me that they're willing to take on a higher standard and expectation level," Guilbeau said. "This group showed me that even the fourth-year kids with only one year left, they're willing to really step it up and increase all of their work."
The adversity the team experienced last year might have also galvanized some members of the team into taking advantage of Srebrovic's absence to shine for the Cavaliers. Senior Kristen James, who has had to take up the responsibility of playing at the No. 1 slot for singles, is the current ACC Player of the Week.
Virginia will test its newfound confidence when they embark on a two-game Pennsylvania road trip. First up is Penn State, which swept away Army 7-0 in their season opener.
Guilbeau said he believes the team will have to adapt quickly to conditions on the road. "It's a real challenge -- I don't think that just because you're away you expect a lesser result," Guilbeau said. "But there are different factors in terms of playing tennis. The courts are different. Their courts are a little faster."
The University of Pennsylvania will provide a special challenge for the team. In 2002, it was Penn that derailed a four-game Cavalier winning streak. Since then, the Cavaliers have not won a game against Penn.
"All the teams that we're going to play this season are challenging," James said. "Penn especially, we've struggled against in the past. Hopefully this year we're looking for a little revenge. Since this is my last year, I would really like to see us come away with a win."
Virginia has never played Penn State. Like University of Pennsylvania though, Penn State has started their season off strong with a 7-0 win.
Virginia's main advantage in both contests is that it is more battle-tested having played two more games, including an exhausting Saturday when the team played Princeton and Old Dominion.
Read More
You cannot say money is the problem for Virginia football
By Peter Kriebel | 6 hours agoMoney, after all, is just one aspect of a winning program.
West Coast woes strike again as men’s basketball gets hammered by Stanford
By Emory Huffman | 17 hours agoVirginia, once again in a lost season, looked aimless on the floor.
ISTVAN: Tony Bennett left Virginia in a hole
By Ben Istvan | YesterdayHis decision to retire doomed this men's basketball season.
