Notre Dame closes out fall season at Colorado Invitational
By STEVE KEPPEL
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame women's tennis team heads into their final tournament of the fall season on Thursday looking to cap a very impressive run thus far. Coming off a successful tournament in Colorado where they dominated the competition, the Irish look to start putting the finishing touches on a signature season.
The Irish have played strong throughout their lineup all year. They are led by their core of experienced veterans including Michelle Dasso, Becky Varnum, Kim Guy, and Nina Vaughan.
Besides the solid play of the upperclassmen, the surprise of the year has to be the talent among the group of freshmen on the team. With senior Michelle Dasso not competing in the Colorado Invitational, it gave some of the younger girls an opportunity to step up their game against tougher opponents. And that's exactly what they did.
"We did really well playing as a team," freshman Caylan Leslie said. "Since we are so close it helps us push each other to do that much better."
Leslie, from Newport Beach, Calif., has been one of the most consistent players for the Irish this year. She entered college after being ranked as high as 11th in the USTA national top 18 last year and came into this season as the sixth highest ranked freshman in the nation.
It has been a long road since the first practice in August and then the first match at the Maryland Invitational but Leslie has steadily improved each week earning herself one of the top spots in the Irish lineup.
"I was so nervous in the first match but with each tournament I get more confidence," Leslie said. "I really do not feel that there is that much pressure on me right now."
One of the most important reasons for her success so far, Leslie says, has been the support from her coach and most importantly her teammates.
"They have been really supportive and showed me how to be a good team member," Leslie said. "They have really showed me by example and have taught me to be patient."
Leslie has been anything but patient in gathering wins in her first collegiate season. After three singles wins last tournament she hopes to play even better in the Midwest Regional Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich. this weekend. This tournament will be the last for the Irish this fall and they hope to end it on a high note and begin to prepare for the spring season.
"I hope to do really well," Leslie said. "I would like to win a few rounds because I know the competition is really tough.
"I have been happy with the way I have played so far and I hope to improve. I just want to improve and take it from there."
The Irish will be sending their best girls to compete against top players from the Midwest and Big East. Dasso, Varnum, Vaughan, Lindsay Green, Guy, and Leslie will all be representing the Irish in singles play. Dasso and Varnum and Guy and Cunha will be competing in doubles as well. After this tournament the women will take some time off until January when they will take on Duke University.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, November 2, 2000
