Women's tennis coach 'optimistic' about season

By: Kayla Panu

Posted: 9/12/08

09/12/08- As the first full week of school concludes, the University of Rhode Island women's tennis team begins its fall season today at Fordham University.

"I'm very optimistic," head coach Sandy Wood said. "We have a very strong team. Fordham was a team we were able to beat in a tight match last year."

As soon as school was back in session, the Rams went back to work training for their season. Wood said that his team was working hard on a physical basis and that it's the fittest team he has ever had. Now they have to translate that hard work into official match play.

He also has a well-balanced team with five upperclassmen and three new freshman recruits. Three freshmen include Pam Emery of North Providence, R.I. and twins Kirsten and Tristany Leikem of Arizona.

"I'm likely to have the three freshmen in the top four [slots] which is very unusual," Wood said.

Last year, URI finished with a 15-6 record 3-1 (A-10). In the A-10 Championships, the Rams were the sixth seed. They defeated No. 11 University of Dayton 4-2 but lost to Richmond University 4-0. The team's final match was against seventh-seeded University of North Carolina-Charlotte in which they lost, 4-3.

Overall, URI tied for seventh place with Duquesne University for the 2007-2008 A-10 Championships.

The goal for the team this year matches previous years: to win everything they can. Wood said that there are always a few matches that you know you can win, a few that it's harder and a few that if you play well, then will win.

"If we win the majority [of our matches] it will be a great season," he said.

It's too early to tell which players have improved, Wood said, but he is very excited about his team.

"We are going to surprise a few teams," he said. "It's going to be fun and good to be stronger than people think. This is the best team of my 10 years [here]."