CNN/SI - SI for Women - 1999 Spring Preview: Tennis

1999 College Sports Spring Preview

Nickitas knows youth will serve Florida well. Joe Raymond/NCAA Photos

TENNIS

Top Teams

1. Florida
"We have eight girls here who on any given day could play Number 1 for us," says coach Andy Brandi. Dilemmas, dilemmas. Senior Stephanie Nickitas and freshman Jessica Lehnhoff should see the most time as top seeds. With two of the last three NCAA titles, Florida has surpassed Stanford as the sport's premier program.

2. Duke
Wake Forest coach Lew Gerrard thinks Duke senior Vanessa Webb is mentally the toughest player in the nation. The NCAA singles champ is the school's first female individual titlist in any sport.

3. Georgia
Junior Marissa Catlin, the country's top player, missed the NCAAs with mononucleosis; her doubles partner, senior Vanessa Castellano, had tendinitis. Healthy now, they hope to take Georgia all the way.

4. California
The Bears bring back eight players ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Top 100, more than any school in the nation.

5. Stanford
"Sure, we're young, but we're good," says coach Frank Brennan. Marissa Irvin certainly qualifies as both; the freshman finished the fall season ranked No. 6 by the ITA.

6. Mississippi
Ole Miss has three players ranked in the ITA's fall top 25, including No. 3, senior Agnes Muzamel.

7. UCLA
Coach Stella Sampras may lack her brother's Q rating, but Pete's big sis is a big name in Westwood. UCLA has all but three players back from last year's No. 14 team.

8. William & Mary
Upset wins over Texas, Cal and UCLA last season earned Brian Kalbas ITA National Women's Tennis Coach of the Year honors.

9. Texas
NCAA champs in '93 and '95, UT faces 13 teams from last year's ITA top 25, including a maddening March with visits from Duke and Florida.

10. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Sophomore Julie Ditty begins the year with a No. 7 ranking, the highest in school history.

Hot Dates

March 16
Duke at Florida

May 20-28
NCAA championships, University of Florida, Gainesville

Division II

Lynn University , in Boca Raton, Fla., has won back-to-back NCAA Division II championships after moving up from the NAIA, in '97.

Division III

Kenyon College , in Gambier, Ohio, has a pair of aces in senior Erin Hockman and junior Caryn Cuthbert, the Division III doubles champs.

Cybersources

www.tennisonline.com
Definitive spot for the latest word on college tennis

www.ncaachampionships.com
A comprehensive site for the 1999 NCAA championships

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