USD Women's Tennis 1993

THE COACHES

PLAYER PROFILES

PLAYER PROFILES

1992-1993 OUTLOOK

Now in her ninth season as head coach of the women's tennis pro– gram at the University of San Diego, Sherri Stephens has quickly turned the USO program into one of the best, most respected women's tennis programs throughout the country. Stephens arrived at USO in the Fall of 1984 and immediately began to re-shape the women's ten– nis fortunes. Proof of her success lies in the Toreros' four straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament;

Paula Hansen

The USO women's tennis team enters the 1992-93 season as one of the most highly respected teams in collegiate women's tennis. With four consecutive NCAA appearances and Top-20 finishes since 1989, the 16th ranked Toreros enter the 1993 cam– paign with the same optimistic outlook. Six returning players and one newcomer make up the 1993 roster. Led by the return of 1992 NCAA All-Americans Julie McKeon and Laura Richards, the Toreros will field a balanced lineup in both singles and doubles . McKeon (#21 pre-season ITA singles ranking) and Richards (#28 pre-season ITA singles ranking) enter the 1992-93 year with a ITA doubles ranking of 4th in the nation. They teamed up this past fall to win the Rolex-ITA SoCal Regional Doubles Championship and will participate this February at the Rolex National Indoors in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With the addition of newcomer Kristine Smith, a fresh– man from Calgary, Canada, the Toreros will have the depth to be competitive with everyone on their schedule. The schedule, which includes nine teams ranked in the pre-season ITA Top-20, is among the toughest in the country. Included among the Toreros' opponents are home contests with Pepperdine, San Diego State, Kentucky, Cal Berkeley, Kansas and Wisconsin; as well as road contests at Southern California, Utah, Brigham Young and Duke. The Toreros will also host their own USO Tennis Classic, an eight team event, at the end of March.

Laura Mannisto

Boulder, CO

Senior 5'3" Major: Psychology

Kaunianen, Finland Senior 5'7" Major: Business Administrtion

Paula is filled with talent and desire. In 1992 she teamed with "Tuck" Kacharoen to win the WCC "Flight C" Doubles Championship. She fin ished 11-8 in doubles and 23- I 5 overall. In 1990-91 as a sophomore, she posted a perfect 8-0doubles record (w/Kacharoen). She is expected to play a major role this year in both singles and doubles. Kara Brady Lawrence, KS Junior 5'3" Major: Education Kara, last season's team captain, is described by her coaches as "the Jimmy Connors of women's tennis" for her never-say-die attitude. Last season she tallied winning records in both singles and doubles. Recipient of the 1991 Sportsmanship Award al the Fiesta Bowl, Kara will be a key performer in the team's success in '93.

Strong in doubles, Laura brings an interna– tional flair to the USO program. The past two seasons she combined for a 17-8 doubles mark. Last year she compiled a 6-3 singles record and 8-3 doubles finish

(8 -2 w/Lauer). Laura is a 3-time WCC Scholar Athlete.

Karen Lauer

Berkeley, CA Senior

5'1''

English

Major:

Karen adds strength to the team with her expe– rience, toughness and leadership abilities. Considered by her coaches as "a hard working individual", Karen will add depth to both the singles and doubles lineups. In 1991 -92, Karen fini shed 7-3 in singles and 8-4 in doubles (w/Mannisto).

Sherri Stephens four straight Top-20 fin- ishes; four straight second place finishes at the West Coast Confer– ence Championships; and three NCAA All-Americans over the last two seasons. Her 1992-93 team begins the season with a # 16 national ranking. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Stephens was a nationally ranked player on the junior circuit before enrolling at the University of Arizona. After completing her collegiate playing career in 1979, she was named an assistant coach of the Wildcats. Well respected among her peers in the coaching profes– sion, Sherri was a featured speaker at the 1992 and 1993 ITACoaches' Convention.

Julie McKeon

Northbrook, IL Junior 5'6" Major: Communications

Julie will again be among the nation's best in '93. She was named a 1992 NCAA All-American after reach– ing the semis of the NCAA Doubles Championships (w/ Richards). She finished 1992 with records of 27-6 in singles and 18-7 in doubles, and won the WCC "Flight

A" Doubles Final. She enters 1993 ranked 21st in singles and 4th in doubles with Richards. A 1992 WCC Scholar Athlete, Julie teamed with Richards this Fall to win the 1992 Rolex SoCal Regional Doubles Championship.

Laura Richards

Vis1a, CA

Junior 5'6" Major: Communications

Anne-Marie Voorheis returns for her third season with the Toreros. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Voorheis held top Florida rankings throughout her years in the junior program. She played collegiately at North Carolina State University, earning Most Valuable Player honors and serving as team captain her senior year. She graduated from NCS U in 1989 with a degree in Business Manage-

1993 USD TOREROS Sitting 1-r:

Laura received NCAA All-America status in 1992 after reaching the semis of the NCAA Doubles Championships (w/McKeon). Like a year ago, Laura will compete for the top singles spot on the Toreros squad and will be one of the best in the west. Last year

Julie McKeon Laura Richards Stand ing 1-r: Asst. Anne-Marie Voorheis Karen Lauer Laura Mannisto Kristine Smith Paula Hansen Kara Brady Head Coach Sherri Stephens

she finished 24-8 in singles and 18-7 in doubles; won the WCC: "Flight A" Doubles title; and will join McKeon at the 1993 Rolex National I 1doors after winning the 1992 Rolex SoCal Regional Doubles Championship.

Kristine Smith

Calgary, Canada Freshman 5'7" Major: Business

Anne-Marie Voorheis

The lone freshman on this year's squad, Kristine is a player that will make an immediate impact in both singles and doubles. A member of the Canadian Na– tional Team, Kristine won the 1991 Canadian National Doubles Championship and had a #2 singles ranking in under 18' s.

ment and Economics. Prior lo coming to USO, Voorheis was an assistant coach with the men' s and women's programs at George Mason University. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Business Administration.