USD Men's Tennis 1994

1994 OUTLOOK Questionmarks for '94 Torero Tennis

There are so many unanswered questions about the 1994 USO men's tennis team that only one thing is abso– lutely certain -time will tell. Although the Toreros appeared in the fall preseason rankings at #22,there are reasons to believe they are much bet– ter than that, or not nearly that good. Of the top six players on last year's #21-ranked team , only #1 Fredrik Axsater and #4 Emmanuel Udozorh are counted on by Coach Ed Collins to re– turn to the lineup. Gone to graduation, and surely to be missed is Kevin Brad– ley, who finished his 4-year college ca– reer with an impressive overall record of 148 wins and 62 losses. Missing from fall collegiate competi–

Emmanuel Udozorh lion, and presently unsure of their plans, are Ignacio Martinez and Philippe Hofmann. Both took the fall semester off to play tournaments. Martinez, a junior, who last year accumulated an impressive record of 33 and 9 at #2-3 singles and #1 doubles, is consider– ing turning pro. Hofmann graduated in '93 but still has a year of eligibility and is considering returning to USO to attend graduate school. Another big questionmark for Coach Collins is J.J. Shobar, a junior from San Anselmo, California, who nursed a sore elbow throughout last year, then underwent surgery in the summer and is now rehabilitating . "J.J. improved a lot last year," said Coach Collins. "A healthy arm will give him the opportunity to fill a big role for us." Newcomers who have proven capable of competing in the top 6 posi– tions are transfers Robert Pavliska and Rafael Escobar. Pavliska, a sopho– more transfer from Virginia Commonwealth, is a rangy all-courter with "un– limited potential," according to Collins. Escobar, a swift serve and volleyer, transfered after two years at ASU . A former top US junior, Escobar "has just to solidify his shots," says Collins, to become a major college player. Returnees who figure to compete for lower singles positions are Mark Huarte, a junior from Tempe, Arizona , who was 9-2 at #6 in '93; Robbie Seward, a senior from Colorado Springs, who played #6 for the Toreros in '92; Tim Truebenbach, a sophomore serve and volleyer from Tacoma, Wash– ington, and junior JC transfer Jeff Greenhut, a solid baseliner from New York. How all the pieces fit together on this team - who plays where, and with whom in doubles -will take time and a bit of experimenting, accord– ing to Collins, now in his 16th year as Torero coach. "Our goal, as always, will be to do as well as we can ," Collins said. The Torero netters will test their mettle against the nation's best teams. On the '94 schedule are dual matches with '93 NCAA Champ USC, '92 NCAA Champ Stanford, along with perrenial top teams from UCLA, Cal Berkeley, ASU, Arizona , Harvard, Fresno State and New Mexico. USO will also be challenged at the Penn/ASU National Collegiate Classic, the Blue– Gray National Collegiates in Montgomery, Alabama, the Pro-Kennex Ten– nis Classic, the 23rd San Diego lntercollegiates and the Wefjl, Coast Con– ference Championships. "The new format and regional playoffs will add to the excitement of college tennis," said Collins, who refered to the ITA's adoption of the ?-point college match where doubles pro sets precede the six singles matches, and the regionalization - a la basketball - of the NCAAs. l'I' IJIN DIEGO .. TENNIS 1994 USO Men's Tennis Media Gulde was published by the Sports Information Department, University of San Diego. Credits: Ted Gosen, Editor; Russ GIibert, Ed Collins & Brock Scott (VSN), Photography; King's Printing Corporation, Printing; Ted Gosen & Cyndy Guy, Layout. On the cover 1-r: seniors Robbie Seward & Fredrik Axsater.