W. Tennis is ready to contend

A perfect 7-0 record in the spring. Decisive wins over several tough teams including nationally ranked UC-Santa Barbara. An undefeated spring break trip through California. Not to mention a No. 68 national ranking. By all accounts, the Penn women's tennis team has come out of the gates en fuego, making the players extremely confident going into their upcoming matches and the fast-approaching Ivy season. The Quakers are especially encouraged by their exciting win against Richmond -- a goal the team had focused on heavily prior to the season. "I think the strong win against Richmond and the consistent performance this year are definitely part of the reason for our ranking," No. 1 singles player Anastasia Pozdniakova said. "We had some great wins this year and we deserve it." Led by senior tri-captains Julia Feldman, Brooke Herman and Karen Ridley, the team has recently concentrated on its overall unity. The California trip not only gave the Quakers a chance to work on their game but also to focus on the team's personal dynamic. "We had a great time in California and we really bonded as a team," junior Elana Gold said. The Quakers are beginning to prepare themselves for the all-important Ivy season, which starts March 31 at home against Columbia. Penn is eager to better last year's third-place league finish and claim the elusive title. Penn went 5-2 in the Ivies, 13-7 overall in '98. "Everything we do all season is geared toward the Ivies," Herman said. "We're having a great season so far, and we need to constantly keep each other motivated and focused." The goal seems more reachable, with no clear front-runner for the Ivy crown. "There will be truly deep competition this year with five or six teams having a genuine shot at it," Gold said. "I think [our] prospects are great, but it'll come down to whoever wants it more." To take home the title, Penn will have to knock off Harvard and Princeton, last year's top two Ivy teams. "Harvard will probably be a little weaker this year because they graduated a couple of strong players from last season," Ridley said. "There is definitely going to be some tough competition and Yale's probably the biggest one to go after." "This is the strongest the team has ever been and I have a lot of faith," said Pozdniakova, a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection. "We need to use this chance because we have it now." Penn also stressed the importance of its doubles matches, which are often the deciding factor in Ivy matches. "We have been winning two out of three doubles matches consistently, and those are going to be really important later on in the season," Pozdniakova said. "Ivy teams have very strong doubles play, so the pressure will be on our No. 2 and No. 3 doubles pairs." After watching the football and men's basketball teams win league championships, the Quakers are all the more excited to bring home their first-ever Ivy championship. "We watched the football team win a title and saw the [basketball] game at Princeton and we really feel motivated to get one of our own," said Ridley, a two-time second-team All-Ivy pick. "It's the seniors' last chance, and we are trying so hard to motivate the younger girls. And if Brooke [Herman's] wrist starts feeling better, we have a great chance? because she's such a huge asset to our team." Herman has been battling a long-term wrist injury but played her first match in weeks against UC-Irvine during spring break. Her return would be a valuable asset to the team as she brings strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate fellow team members. The Quakers continue their season tomorrow at Penn State, who they defeated 8-1 and 7-2 in two meetings last year. After visiting Happy Valley, the Quakers head to Rutgers the following Tuesday. Penn then returns for a five-match homestand. Between March 28 and April 10, the Red and Blue will battle Georgetown, Columbia, Princeton, Brown and Yale. "Everyone has been playing extremely well and we feel very confident," Penn coach Michael Dowd said. "We have so much experience and depth on the court right now and that will roll over into wins. We just have to be mentally and physically prepared for every match."