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Show - I ~ r -.,. THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL • SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY • WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1998 'BIRD SPORTS ll331 Pressure not a problem for Spanish tennis ace By GLENN HALTERMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER Last year, Carolina Ferrandez came to the SU campus, sight unseen. Now, she's the T-Bird netters' number one player, and a sight on the collegiate tennis scene. Ferrandez, 20, moved by herself ro San Francisco three years ago from her home in Alicanre, Spain. And though she described the relocation as "scary," the feelings weren't enough to deter her from her goal. "I didn't care," she said. "I wanted to learn English so bad." Since she's been here, she's not only honed her English skills, but has put a polish on her tennis game, as well. After graduating from San Francisco area high school, she earned an athletic scholarship to play tennis for Washington State University. However, because of the distance from her friends in San Francisco and the weather in Pullman, Wash., Ferrandez decided to look for another school where she could serve and volley. She said she simply started calling around to diiferent institutions, asking about the possibility to play. After contacting several schools, she made the determination to come to SUU, even though she had never seen the campus. "I don't care where I go," said Ferrandez, "as long as it's for the better.'' Although she has been playing tennis since she was 10, competing at the high level she encountered in the U.S. was relatively new to her. "I never had time for tournaments because of school," Ferrandez said. " We don't have teams in high school...It's an American th ing." Ferrandez turned to her father, who used to coach tennis, to learn the game, as well as a private tennis club, which she worked,out at three times a week. This year, her efforts paid off, as she was named as a First Team All-Mid Continent Conference player, leading her team to a fifth place finish in the conference roumey. "I think I improved a lot this year," said Ferrandez, who has had to make the adjustment from European clay courts to the hard court surface common in the U.S. "I never played with power until I got·here, " she said. Ferrandez also spoke highly of her teammates. "They make everything more enjoyable for me," she said. Although Ferrandez admitted that doubles play has its good points, she said she prefers the singles game. "It's kind of cool to have the pressure," she said. Has she ever had aspirations of turning ...._ professional? "Of course," Ferrandez said. "It's "\ too late, (though]. I'd have to be 15 to think about that...l'm past my time to be pro, but I know I can be a really good player for SUU.'' But even though she may not be playing on Centre Court at Wimbeldon any time soon, :.! Ferrandez does have a favorite circuit player. 12. "Oh, ya- [Andrej Agassi," she said. "He's been 5my favorite since I was little.'' ~ Ferrandez, a business education/CIS major, ~ said she ,wants to get her degree and work for a ~ firm in Spain. "I have to go back because my <! mom doesn't want me to stay here forever," she ~ said. "She misses me." ~ And how does she like it at SUU? "I think ..___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.;;:..;;;;.;;:;::;;.:._..---=;;;..;:==:;.:;.;.;==:.:.--1 G Cedar City is boring, but I like Utah because it Carolina Ferrandez is beautiful...It's not like L.A." 0 D I N I N G ROO M In the Sflarwaa Smllfl Center • Use 1aar Meal.:ard al all lflese la1:adan1 i.....--~--~------------------------~-...------------------------=--,,,----------=......~----=----·~------------~--------_..-.------, ..... -........... . . .... . . .. .. .. ___ __. |