Volume 120 >> Issue 32 : Thursday, August 24, 2000

Fall Sports Preview - Women’s Tennis

The women’s team’s biggest challenges this year will be its youth and the loss of Mealani Nakamura ’00, a captain and last year’s top player, and a nationals qualifier in singles and doubles.

“Everyone will have to step up. We certainly had a tremendous year last year. This year we’ll have a fairly young team -- no seniors. We’ll see who can step up and take the challenge,” said head coach Carol Matsuzaki ’95.

However, after last year’s stunning performance, which included going undefeated in the conference in the fall, taking the conference title, and NCAA appearances by Nakamura and Kelly Koskelin ’02, there seems to be little doubt that the team is prepared for continued NEWMAC success.

“The season outlook looks good. If we can keep up the attitude from last year and keep working hard and be even better in the area of competing intelligently, we can do well,” Matsuzaki said.

With 5-4 victories over Wellesley, Bates, Colby, Wesleyan, Mt. Holyoke, and Vassar, and a 6-3 victory over Skidmore, many teams will be gunning for revenge against MIT.

“I am sure the competition will be exciting again this year,” Matsuzaki said.