W. Tennis looking for a repeat

An Ivy League championship, the Ivy League Player of the Year and an upset victory in the NCAA tournament.

How can the Penn women's tennis team repeat last year's unprecedented success?

While returning the core members of last year's team, the Quakers head into the new season seeking to improve upon last year's performance with many additions.

Five freshmen, a world-class sophomore who sat out with an injury all last year and a talented transfer student are all expected to make an immediate impact for the Quakers.

"The freshmen are all pretty consistent right now," Penn sophomore captain Sanela Kunovac said. "I think that they are holding to what coach expected."

Despite the loss of four out of five of his seniors in the preseason, Penn coach Mike Dowd said he has not sensed the young nature of the team in the early weeks of practice.

Rather, Dowd recognizes an aura of maturity, one very similar to the mystique from last year's squad -- a squad that went 7-0 in Ivy League competition and defeated No. 19 Pepperdine in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

"Last year, we had three freshmen in the starting lineup, so it is the same atmosphere as last year," Dowd said. "We won't have three freshmen starting this year, so in a way we're more experienced."

As the first sophomore captain in the school's history, Kunovac returns from her selection as both the Ivy League Player and Freshman of the Year with not only an arsenal of talent, but with the newly endowed honor of being the inspirational leader of the team.

"It is a true tribute to Sanela to be elected [captain] by her coaches and peers," Dowd commented. "She is respected both on and off the court by everyone."

Kunovac came to Penn last year as the three-time Florida state champion and valedictorian of her class at Bradenton Academy. She quickly attacked both the academic and athletic stratospheres of Penn in her freshman year, gaining the respect of everyone around her.

"She's been very helpful," freshman Michelle Yeh said. "She and [sophomore] Alice Pirsu have shown a lot of leadership. They have shown us how to really practice, how to give 100 percent every time out there."

Kunovac posted a 25-11 mark at first singles last year while teaming up with current sophomore Nicole Ptak at the No. 2 doubles position to go 14-8 on the season.

The addition of Pirsu, who sat out last year, will be invaluable for the Red and Blue. A WTA-ranked player, Pirsu enters the season with lofty goals that are sure to help carry the Quakers back into the postseason.

"Right now, each person wants to be ranked as highly as possible," Pirsu said. "Personally, I'd like to be ranked in the top thirty in both singles and doubles."

Pirsu will team up with junior transfer Raluca Ciulei to form what should be one of the most feared doubles teams in the country.

Coming out of Virginia Commonwealth, Ciulei -- a native of Romania -- enters the season ranked 46th in the national doubles rankings with Pirsu. Both players will bring needed experience and leadership to a team that features several young players.

This year's batch of freshmen may not have the Ivy League player of the year in its midst, but it represents a crucial aspect of the team and will be essential for the depth of the team during a run at the Ivy title.

Doubles partners Linda Leibfarth and Michelle Yeh arrive from St. Stephen's High School in Austin, Texas for their first year. Already with the bond of friendship intact, the two have quickly adapted to life at Penn with a joint effort.

"[Linda's] being on the team is very helpful; we know each other so well," Yeh said. "Whenever we have a tough day, we help each other out."

Also joining the Quakers will be Kate Williams, a four-time first team All-State selection from Hindsdale, Ill., and Shelah Chao (Medford, N.J.), who enters the season as the highest ranked player of the 2001 recruiting class.

Penn's young lineup will be tested early this fall, beginning today at the William and Mary Invitational.

"If we do well now, we will be better in the spring," Pirsu said. "Fall tournaments will only help us get experienced."

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