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Show Page C-1- 4 Openings 1989 . Depth is key for defending WAG champions By Loren Jorgensen Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor The University of Utah men's tennis team has a lot going for it. Last season, the Ute team won the VVAC championship, made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament and was named Chronicle With all but one of its players returning, and with two talented freshmen coming in, this season looks just as bright Team-of-the-Yea- r. for the Utes. But that's not all the Utes have going for them. In years past, Utah's tennis teams have had to call local tennis clubs like the Sports Mall and the Canyon Racket Club "home" for iractices and matches. But no f onger. With the opening of the George S. Eccles Sports Complex the Utes will have one of the finest tennis facilities around, right on campus. "We're really excited about it (the Eccles Complex)," Utah Coach F.D. Robbins said. "We will now be able to play all our matches and have all our practices right at the U." Robbins also said he feels the new tennis center will help create support for the team from the U. community and student-bod- y. "It's a good spectator complex," Robbins said. "We're hoping that now we're closer (to the U.), we'll be able to get more students out to watch our matches." If U. students enjoy good tennis, then the 1989-9- 0 Utes could be a team to watch. With only one player, Eric Chin, gone from last season's conference championship team, the Utes should have the experience to be in the hunt for another title. Robbins has a trio of seniors returning in Martin Tenlen, Johan Hoegstedt and Brendan Bowyer, as well as junior Chris Entzel. Robbins said any one of those four could play No. 1 singles for the Utes this year. "We have a lot of experience coming back," Robbins said. "One of the strengths of our team should be our depth." Adding to that depth will be sophomore Chris Gladwell and incoming freshmen Dave Pack and Chris Reilly. Pack is a lefty from Granite High School who State Championship won the in singles last year, while Reilly (the son of Ute football offensive coordinator, Jack Reilly) helped Brighton High School to the title and was the state champion at No. 2 singles. , While losing Chin will require 3-- A 4-- A . replacement in singles play, a Robbins will especially miss him in doubles competition. "Eric Lady Utes eye HCAC crown was one of the best doubles players we had," Robbins said. Chin and partner Hoegstedt beat a team from BYU in three sets last May to give the Utes the title. The two also on to participate in the went NCAA doubles championships. Robbins is hoping one of the freshmen will be able to step in and take Chin's place. "We should have a good, solid team," Robbins predicted. "I think our lineup can match up against any other team in the WAC, but it will all depend on who plays best at the end of the year. We'll need to peak at the right time." WAC team Robbins sees San Diego State, New Mexico and BYU as three other teams who will contend for the conference title. In addition to the league teams, Sophomore Ruth Ann Stevens and the Lady Ute tennis team are expected to contend for the HCAC title this season, despite the loss of confrence singles champ Michelle Mras. Utah's schedule will include a caliber number of clubs including USC, Stanford, top-twen- Cal-Berkele- ty By Jim Burton Kansas Cal-Irvin- e, y, Chronicle Sports Writer and San Diego. While the team matches, WAC and NCAA Championships will be held next spring, individual tournaments will take place this The future looks bright for Coach John Tsumas' Utah women's tennis. Despite losing two of his top competitors from last year's team, Tsumas is optimistic about the Lady Utes' Utah will host a tournament Oct. 6 featuring Weber State, Utah State and fall.- - 2-- BYU. The new Eccles Complex chances of getting some national attention this season. Michelle Mras, the first Lady Ute tennis player to ever crack the national collegiate rankings, will also be the site of the individual regional championships in November. and Susie Westfall, have graduated, leaving two gaping holes in the Utah line up. But Tsumas, ever the optimist, said he believes that somone on the team will step in and take charge. "It's a little early to tell right now who will come on to play No. 1 singles for us," Tsumas said. "Michelle left a big space there; but I think with time and some really tough practice, somone will emerge as a leader. It's going to take some hard work though. Right now, though, the """" X No. 1 singles spot is wide open." Two women from last year's squad are likely candidates. Ruth Ann Steven, a sophomore this year, played the No. 2 spot most of last season; and with a year of experience behind her, the former state high school champion will O f ' Jr be the odds on favorite. Susie Costa, a junior this year, played at the No. 4 spot last year and combined with Mras to form a doubles team. Junior Julie Kempin, who was nationally-ranke- d the Lady Utes' No'. 3 singles player last season, may also have a shot at No. 1. As far as scheduling is concerned, Tsumas has again taken a masochistic stance. Last year, he scheduled matches with 15 of the nation's top 25 teams. Senior Martin Teneln helped the Utah men's tennis team to a WAC title and the NCAA tournament last year. This season he is expected to vie for the No. 1 singles spot. Read the rJ) Award Winning Chronicle Sports Section Utah's omy state Licensed Abortion ciinic Member of little help from, of all places, BYU, Utah will play several national caliber teams. Tsumas and BYU Coach Ann Valintine have come together to schedule "quad" matches this year. This will call for two visiting teams to travel to Utah for two matches, one at the Eccles Center against the Lady Utes and the other in Provo against BYU. "The quad matches should make for some pretty good tennis. One day we'll nave a great team playing us and so will BYU, and then they'll switch. I'm hoping the tough schedule and the new facilities will draw more people out to our matches," Tsumas said. As the schedule stands right now, four of the nation's top 10 teams will travel to Utah for matches with Utah and BYU. Miami, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma State are all expected to provide excitement this winter. Last year, the goal of the Lady Utes was to crack the national-rankingBy taking on UCLA, s. Stanford and the like, Tsumas' team got the attention of the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association the group that ranks all college teams and the Lady Utes were eventully ranked as high as No. 18 nationally. "We're excited about the upcoming season, " Tsumas said, "because about half of our matches will be at home. Last year, we went out on the road to play these nationally ranked teams, now they're wanting to come here. 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