Arizona game will test Bruins' depth

Published: Friday, January 30, 1998

Friday, January 30, 1998

W. TENNIS: Key injuries raise concerns about UCLA's ability to win

By Jared Hummel

Daily Bruin Contributor

The UCLA women's tennis team will get an opportunity to test their depth against a tough Arizona State club today in Phoenix.

After breezing through their first two contests vs. UC Irvine and Utah, the Bruins face off against the No. 8 team in the nation and their first conference opponent.

UCLA hopes to avenge last year's loss at Phoenix where they were shocked 4-5 in their Pac-10 opener.

However, the Bruins will once again be without the services of their No. 1 player in sophomores Amanda Basica Katia Roubanova; freshman Cristina Popescu is questionable after she pulled a muscle in her match against Utah.

UCLA will have to contend with Reka Cseresnyes who is currently ranked No. 30 nationally. Cseresnyes will match up against sophomore Annica Cooper who is playing in the No. 1 position in place of the injured Basica. Cooper has put together an impressive season early on, recording a victory at the Milwaukee Classic and was a runner-up at the Pac-10 Indoor and National Collegiate Tennis Classic.

The Bruins currently own a 32-9 edge over Arizona State overall.

On Saturday the Bruins will travel down the road to Tucson where they will take on the University of Arizona.

The Wildcats will enter play with a No. 23 national ranking.

Playing in the No. 1 position for Arizona will be Vicky Maes who boasts a No. 74 national ranking.