Feb. 23, 2005
By Roland Hu, USD Media Relations This Week in Torero Tennis: The University of San Diego (1-3) will host unranked Furman University (3-2) at the West Tennis Courts on Sunday, February 27. Game time will be 10:00 A.M. The Toreros are eager to get back on the courts after their February 19 match against Fresno State was canceled due to rain.
Recap of Last Week's Action: The 12th-ranked USC Trojans visited San Diego last Wednesday and dispatched the Toreros by a score of 7-0. Despite the sweep, there were many positives that resulted, including senior Lauren Kazarian and junior Jenny Brown's victory at No. 1 doubles. They beat Nicole Leimbach and Carine Vermuelen by a score of 8-5. A tightly contested match throughout, the Torero duo was able to pull out the win with their excellent volleys and great on-court chemistry. Junior Emma Murphy also provided some spectacular highlights at No. 1 singles, as she pushed No. 9 Nicole Leimbach to the limit using her superior foot speed and gritty determination. In the end, Leimbach barely hung on for the 6-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8) triumph. Another bright spot for the Toreros was the play of Jenna Anderson and Helene Lindstrand, as both won their matches in the exhibition singles that was held that afternoon. San Diego was ready to bounce back Saturday afternoon when they were set to travel to No. 22 Fresno State. Unfortunately, rains forced the match to be canceled. A make-up date for the contest has not yet been determined.
About Furman: The Paladins enter this weekend's match-up with a 3-2 record. After defeating Georgia State 6-1 on February 18, Furman University is ready to start their West Coast swing, beginning with San Diego on February 27. They are lead by seniors Caroline Bentley and Mary Neill Hagood and junior Shannon Moore and Marti Morris. Debbie Southern is in her 21st year as the head coach of the Paladins. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Southern carries with her a career record of 270-187.
Toreros in the Rankings: Junior Emma Murphy found herself ranked No. 45 in the nation when the latest polls came out on February 22. The national acclaim was a direct result of a great fall season, as the native of Cork, Ireland posted an 8-3 singles record. She reached the finals of the Southern California Regional Championships and took top honors at the San Diego State Fall Classic. The 2004 WCC Singles Player of the Year is also the seventh-best player in the West Region. In addition, junior Lauren Perl is No. 24 in the difficult and deep West Region.
Stephens a Mainstay at San Diego: Sherri Stephens enters her 21st year as the head coach of the University of San Diego women's tennis program and is hoping to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. Her teams have been to the Big Dance nine previous seasons and Stephens has coached 5 NCAA Division I All-Americans, including Zuzanna Lesenarova, USD's first four-time All-American and 1999 NCAA Singles Champion. After Stephens completed her collegiate playing days at Arizona in 1979, she joined the coaching staff in Tucson as an assistant. She accepted the head coaching position at USD in 1984 and has developed a reputation as one of the most respected coaches in NCAA Division I tennis. Her overall record at Alcalá Park is 245-218.
Did You Know: Last summer, junior Jenny Brown worked as a teacher's aide in a remote town in Peru and she also lived in a convent with seven nuns as housemates. Back in high school, not only did the 5-7 right-hander win the Oregon State Tennis Singles Title her junior year, but she also captured the State Cross Country Title as well. Brown is also an accomplished cook, who lists her Angel Food Cake with chocolate whipped cream frosting and Heath Bar topping as her favorite desert to make. For more information on Brown, please click here.
