USD Men's Tennis 1993

1993 OUTLOOK

TALENT & DEPTH -

TOREROS HOPEFUL

1993 promises to be another successful year for the University of San Diego men's tennis team . With talent and experience throughout the lineup, the Toreros are eager and optimistic. The Toreros will surely miss the services of '92 graduate Jose Luis Noriega, USO's first 4-time NCAA All-American. To compensate for Norlega's loss, and to improve on last year's 13-8record, 15th year Coach Ed Collins can count on greater depth in both singles and doubles. "If not at the top, we should be stronger in the middle and bottom of the lineup, plus we'll be stronger In doubles," said Collins. To break into the national rankings, the Toreros will count heavily on the talented returning trio of Fredrik Axsater. Kevin Brad– ley and Ignacio Martinez.

Kevin Bradley

Axsater. a junior from Taby, Sweden, compiled a record of 19-9 at #2 in '92 and was ranked nationally at #67. In the fall he won the Consolation title of the West Coast Collegiate Championships. he reached the semis of the ASU Invitational and he was a finalist at the San Diego All-College Tournament. Bradley, a senior from Las Vegas, Nevada, was 20-7 at #2 in '92. This fall he reached the quarters at the Rice/America West Tennis Classic and he won the San Diego All-College. Martinez, a sophomore from Tijuana, Mexico, was 23-3 at #3 in '92. He only played one tournament this fall, where he qualified for the West Coast then lost to #1 seed Lazio Markovitz in the first round. Providing experience in the middle of the lineup will be returnees Philippe Hofmann. a senior from Mannedort, Switzerland and J.J. Shobar, a junior from San Anselmo, California. Last year Hofmann was 17-7 at #5; in the fall he qualified for the West Coast and upset #2 seed Charles Auffray of Pepperdine. Shobar, who sat out last year with an arm injury, was 16-14 at #4 as a freshman. In the fall he qualified at the West Coast and was a consolation finalist at the ASU Invitational. "We missed J.J. last year." said Coach Collins. "He's a solid player who competes as well as anyone on this team." The four-man freshman class is headed by Emmanuel Udozorh, a veteran of international junior tennis who hails from Lagos, Nigeria, yet graduated from New Braunfels High School in Texas. In 1991 Emmanuel earned an (ITF) world junior ranking of #27 in singles and #5 in doubles. A natural serve-and-vollier, Emmanuel will add depth to the singles and doubles lineup. Other freshmen include Darren Potkey, who prepped at Ventura High School, where he won the ·91 Los Angeles CIF Doubles title; Tod Oissly, a 3-time MVP on his Leland High Team in San Jose, California; and Tim Truebenbach, #11 in Pacific Northwest in ·91 and #1 in doubles. Competing for singles spots in the lineup are sophmores Mark Huarte (Tempe. Arizona) and Olla Pierrou (Saltsjobaden, Sweden) and junior Robbie Seward (Colo– rado Springs. Colorado). "All three are fine players who give us needed depth." said Collins. On paper this Torero squad looks good; how it pertorms on the court remains to be seen. "It'll depend on how everyone plays their position and how we compete in doubles,· said Collins. "One thing I know for sure - this is a group of fighters - they don't quit." Collins added. The Torero natters will test their skills with the nation's very best teams. On the '93 schedule are dual matches with '92 NCAA Champ Stanford and preseason #1 ranked USC, along with preseason top-25 teams from Notre Dame, Duke, Miami, Minnesota, New Mexico and Arizona State. USO will also be challenged at the Ice Vollies, hosted by the U of Minnesota, the San Diego lntercollegiates, the USO Invitational, and the West Coast Conference Championships. l'I' MN DIEGO .. T 111 II 11 The 1993 USO Men's Tennis Media Guide was published by the Sports Information Department, University of San Diego. Credits: Ted Gosen, Editor; Russ Gilbert and Ed Collins, Pho– tography; King's Printing Corporation, Printing and Layout. On the cover: sophomore Ignacio Martinez.