Netters return to action against Jayhawks
By KEVIN BERCHOU
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame women's tennis team will be well rested when they take to the courts this afternoon against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. The match constitutes the first in nine days for the Irish, who are eager to return to play.
"We're really excited to be back," sophomore Becky Varnum said. "Everyone is pumped up to get back out there and play."
Junior All-American Michelle Dasso will lead the Irish back into battle. Her strong play of late has allowed the Irish to climb in the national rankings, and her teammates will look for her to set the tone.
"She's been awesome as usual," Varnum said. "She'll be the key for us."
Though the Jayhawks have had their ups and down this season, the Irish women expect a struggle. Despite being just 9-5, Kansas is coming off a quality win over No. 28 South Florida in what may have been its best performance of the year.
"We expect a tough match," Dasso said. "For some reason they are always really fired up to play us. It's a match we should win, but we're going to have to play hard."
The key to the match appears to lie in the singles portion of play. The Irish boast a considerable advantage in singles competition and will be looking to exploit that edge. Notre Dame's top three players, Dasso, Varnum, and senior captain Kelly Zalinski are markedly better than Kansas' top trio of Brooke Chiller, Cheryl Mallaiah, and Monica Sekulov.
"We need to get out and play well in the singles," sophomore Lindsey Green said. "If we have a lead going into doubles we'll be in great shape.
Dasso agrees.
"We really do have an edge in singles," she said, "And it's going to be important to have that lead heading into doubles."
Both players are particularly concerned with obtaining a lead entering doubles play, because the Irish have shown weaknesses in the tandem format. Since an injury to junior Kimberly Guy several weeks ago, the Irish have been unable to find the right doubles mix.
In an effort to recapture the magic of its early season doubles play, Notre Dame will once again juggle its lineup.
Dasso and Varnum will again play No. 1 doubles, followed by Zalinski and Green at No.2, but at No. 3 doubles, freshman Katie Cunha will be paired with sophomore Nina Vaughan. Cunha and Vaughan have never played together, and their inexperience could favor the Jayhawks in a close match.
Coming off their longest break of the spring, one might think that the Irish would be rusty. Dasso feels that's not at all the case.
"I think the break will help us our a lot," she said. "We had a lot of matches in a short period of time so I think we really earned it."
After being left to flounder by the Pepperdine Wave in its last match, Notre Dame will look to reprise its winning ways today as they will be refreshed when they attempt to clip the Jayhawks' wings.
All Sports Stories for Monday, March 27, 2000
