Jan. 20, 2005
SAN DIEGO - It is hard not to feel the enthusiasm coming from the San Diego State women's tennis program. With four letterwinners returning from last year's squad, including two nationally-ranked players, a "Fab Four" recruiting class and the new SDSU Tennis Stadium ready for competition in time for Spring 2005, it is difficult to not be excited for the upcoming season.
When you add in the fact that the program is located in America's Finest City and has appeared in 17 NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships (12th all-time), has had 16 All-America singles players and 16 All-America doubles players, has won conference championships in four different leagues (PCAA, Big West, Western Athletic, Mountain West Conference) and has ended the season ranked in the ITA's final poll in 27 consecutive seasons, the outlook is always bright.
This season is no exception.
Peter Mattera, who enters his 12th season as San Diego State's head coach and his 24th full season on Montezuma Mesa, has seen a lot of tennis in his day and so far he likes what he sees from this year's Aztec squad.
"Two years ago we had a team that was one of the best in the nation. We finished with a final ranking of 27 and a record of 22-6," said Mattera. "From what I have seen so far, this group, along with the returning players and the new talent that we have brought in, has the ability to be as good or even better than that one."
"That team won both the conference regular season and tournament titles and this team is certainly deeper. Hopefully by the end of the spring semester we will have progressed at a rate where I think this team this year could be as good or better than the 2003 squad by the time the conference tournament rolls around."
The reasoning for his thinking is simple: depth. No one can take away the international and collegiate experience the four letterwinners possess. The same goes for the four freshmen that have tons of international competition to their credit.
"We have nine solid, potential points to put out there and I think that quality depth is something you really need. Mattera added, "The season is long and injuries are a part of the game and I think we have enough with nine viable points. I think we will be as deep as anyone in the conference. It's going to be a real dogfight for the conference championship. But having some quality depth will really help our chances."
Despite losing three letterwinners, the Aztecs will definitely miss last season's lone senior and two-time all-Mountain West Conference singles and three-time all-MWC doubles player Katalina Romero. Not only was she a solid competitor at the number two spot in singles, she was outstanding in doubles action with partner and current senior Indra Erichsen.
The two combined to go to 15-7 in dual matches at the number one position and 5-1 in tournaments, for an overall record of 20-8. The all-conference duo ended up with a final ITA doubles ranking of 52 and was ranked as high as No. 13.
Similar to Romero, Erichsen is the squad's lone senior. She boasts an impressive resume as she has been nationally ranked in doubles three straight years with three different partners. Last season she finished with a singles record of 15-12 and will be looked upon to lead the team.
"Indra is very talented. She was solid in singles action for us last year at the two and three spots," the head coach said. "We really anticipate big things from Indra in both singles and doubles. She has a monsterous serve and has great hands at the net."
Also back is last season's number one player Dita Hauerlandova. The junior went 16-15 in her first season at SDSU, earning a No. 81 ranking in the ITA poll. In addition, she also finished the season with a 19-6 doubles record with partner Alesya Vidov.
Mattera believes that Hauerlandova is on the verge of breaking out. He said, "She's an extremely talented young lady. She's got every shot in the book and is very aggressive. She already has a national ranking and there are very few things on the court she cannot do.
"She loves to battle and loves to play. We're expecting her to come back and vie for the number one position again on our team. She is a super athlete and has a real good attacking style."
Joining Hauerlandova in this year's junior class is Sarah Sansom and Andrea Hermansen.
Sansom, an aggressive left-hander, out of Temecula, Calif., is in her second year at SDSU and will add depth. She spent her first season of collegiate tennis at the University of San Francisco and her experience there will provide much needed leadership for a relatively young squad.
Hermansen (Copenhagen, Denmark), who brings a ton of international experience to the table, will be seeing her first action as an Aztec after sitting out the spring 2003 and fall 2004 semesters due to NCAA rules. As anxious as she is to get out on the court against real competition, Mattera is even more so.
"Andrea is tall and athletic and has had a lot of success in singles and in doubles in Denmark. We expect big things from her," the head coach said. "She's been working really hard on her serve and volley game and is anxious to play in some matches that count."
The lone sophomore is Alesya Vidov, who enters the spring coming off of an impressive Fall 2004 season. At the ITA Regionals in October, she reached the round of 16 after knocking off nationally-ranked Joslynn Burkett of Arizona State. Vidov brings the ability to strike the ball with tremendous power and can beat you from all over the court.
Rounding out the team is what Mattera calls his "Fab Four" recruiting class. All four hail from different countries and are expected to make an immediate impact this season.
"We have the best class of freshmen I have ever seen here and I have been here a long time," Mattera said. "We have four true freshmen on this year's team. All are very exciting, very different in their game styles, but they're all great players that we think are going to add a tremendous amount of depth and talent to our team."
Carla Bell is an experienced player from England. She comes to SDSU having had tremendous success in doubles play this past summer in her native country. Mattera expects big things from her.
"Carla plays much bigger than her 5'3" frame. She hits the ball big and heavy from both wings. She loves to be at the net and has great hands. She really loves to hit her forehand for a winner. She will add a lot to our team."
Eliska Krausova is one of two players from the Czech Republic on this year's team. She is very skilled and can strike winners from all over the court. Add that to the fact that she has a big first serve and a heavy second serve will make her a dangerous threat this season.
Sisse Nielsen (Alleroed, Denmark) is the third member of this elite group. She is a terrific athlete that can utilize her quickness and a big serve to topple an opponent. The SDSU coaching staff is looking for her to continue her great Fall 2004 season performance and carry it in the spring.
Rounding out this year's class is Nina Spaeth. The freshman from Germany can definitely stroke the ball as the SDSU coaches fell in love with her classic powerful double-handed backhand. She, like Nielsen, is very quick and athletic with a giant serve.
With this collection of players, it should make for a great product to watch at the program's new facility, the SDSU Tennis Stadium.
"We're really excited and anxious to get out on our brand new, 12-court tennis facility," Mattera said. "We will be able to host tournaments and it will have team space, things we haven't had in the past."
Despite not having the aforementionedaspects, the program never has had a problem winning consistently. But now that everyone's dream facility has come true, the coaching staff believes the sky is the limit.
"I would like to think this team has accomplished a lot over the years. It has always been one of the most highly ranked teams not only at San Diego State in the ath-letics program, but also the nation in Division I women's tennis," the coach said. "We have done it with really one of the worst facilities in Division I. But with a good, solid team on the court and a nice facility to recruit to, hopefully this is the start to kicking it up one more notch."
One way to "kick it up a notch" is to play against the nation's best and that is what San Diego State does every year. This year is no exception with dates at Oregon and at home against California, Michigan and Rice. Going head-to-head against premier schools will prepare this team for a difficult conference schedule that features three other schools that potentially could be ranked in the top 40.
"We're playing a lot of really good programs and there is hardly a match on our schedule when it's not going to be against a nationally-ranked opponent," Mattera said. "We're so fortunate to be in San Diego, because a lot of these teams are willing to come out here and play us on our own turf, which is nice for us."
Any way you look at it, this year's squad is raring to go. The enthusiasm is flowing, people are excited about the new facility, the strength of schedule is tough and expectations are, as always, high.
"We'd like to see SDSU women's tennis as a top-10 program," said the head coach. "I think there is no reason why we can't accomplish that year-in and year-out. Hopefully we can start and accomplish that this year. I think we have the talent to do that."
Added assistant coach Christy Panter, "This team definitely has the potential to be ranked in the top 20. All of the girls have worked hard on becoming better players on the court with their minds, using their mental game. They're really beginning to start believing in themselves and in each other. That's definitely what it's going to take to have a team compete and win conference and go to the NCAA Tournament."
Before the Aztecs can reach the NCAA Tournament, they must fight their way to the top of the Mountain West Conference, a goal Mattera believes is attainable.
"As far as winning the conference, I certainly believe that is an attainable goal. We try to look at the big picture and I think we have just as good of a chance as anyone in the conference to win the title. But beyond that, we'd like to get back to the NCAA Tournament and do some damage at the end of the year. With our depth, I think we have the right kind of team that we can do that and make some noise at the tournament."
The enthusiasm is definitely flowing.