Huskers Looking for Another Tournament Run

Overview
The 2007-08 Nebraska women’s tennis team is poised to maintain the high-level status it has earned in the past few years. With five letterwinners returning from a squad that won 13 dual matches a year ago, the Huskers plan to become a fixture in the national rankings and a force in the competitive Big 12 Conference.

The five returning letterwinners will team up with four newcomers to give the Huskers some needed depth, which they lacked last season after playing the whole season with only six healthy players. The nine-person roster will be NU’s largest in several years and will allow Coach Scott Jacobson to rotate the lineups and go with the hottest player, something he has not had the luxury of doing the past few years.

"We have set a goal for the team to get back to the NCAA Tournament," Jacobson said. "We believe with the return of five individuals and the strength of this year’s incoming class, the opportunities are endless. Our four freshmen are not only tremendously gifted athletes, but have an incredible passion for the game. Each will add many positives to our commitment to consistently having the strongest team chemistry in the country."

Returners
The talent the Huskers have coming back is unquestionable. Senior Imke Reimers will be one of the top players in the Big 12 and the nation. Reimers, who sits near the top of nearly every NU record list, looks to cap off a fantastic Nebraska career with a successful senior season. She will be the lone senior on the nine-person team.

"Imke has been an exceptional leader throughout the course of her collegiate career," Jacobson said. "Her leadership off the court in help and support of her teammates has been as impressive as her play on the court. Imke’s work ethic and commitment to put in additional time outside of practice has led to becoming one the greatest players, singles and doubles, in the history of Nebraska tennis. We are honored and privileged to have someone of great personal integrity leading our program."

Reimers had one of the best seasons in NU history as a junior in 2006-07, winning a combined (fall and spring seasons) 28 singles matches and 20 doubles matches. Her 28 singles wins tie for second on the all-time NU chart, while her 48 combined wins are tied for fourth. Reimers ended the season No. 49 in the ITA singles rankings, and earned a No. 33 preseason ranking this fall.

Reimers will undoubtedly take up the top position in the Husker rotation, both in singles and doubles. She played the whole season at No. 1 in both last season, and this year she will look to do the same, giving the Huskers consistency and experience at the top position in the lineup.

Three juniors will be making a return to the team as well, including Maria Ring, Marianne Cicmanec and Ashley Finnegan. The three played at the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 singles slots last season. The 2007-08 season will mark the second season at NU for the three juniors, after all were newcomers to the team last year. The three combined for 30 singles wins last spring, and will likely be regulars in the six-person Husker rotation. They will add much-needed stability to the Husker lineup this season, and will take on roles as veterans on the team.

Cicmanec is entering her second season playing tennis as she broke into the collegiate ranks last season as a sophomore. She made great strides last year after being thrown into the mix early and often.

"Marianne’s greatest area of improvement came in the mental part of the game this past season," Jacobson said. "She made amazing strides in her ability to remain calm throughout the duration of a match. As she grasped the importance of mental toughness, Marianne’s confidence level grew dramatically and she played some of her best tennis during the heart of our season. Her consistency off the baseline and her willingness to remain patient off the ground, were factors in her constant improvement throughout the course of the season."

Finnegan has two years of Division I tennis under her belt, arriving at Nebraska after playing her freshman season at the College of Charleston.

"Ashley has been a tremendous gift to our program," Jacobson said. "One of her greatest assets on the court is her patience from the baseline. Ashley will stay out on the court and grind away for as long as it takes. Her biggest improvement has been in her development of her net game, and attacking from the transitional area of the court. Her interaction and communication skills with her teammates have helped tremendously in building a positive environment for our program."

Ring will also be entering her third season of Division I tennis. She played a season at WashingtonState before transferring to Nebraska last season. Jacobson has praised of her doubles ability and her strengths in the net game.

"Maria has one of the stronger net games in collegiate tennis," Jacobson said. "Her ability to attack the net is one of her greatest strengths. Maria also has a very effective serve. She is a tremendous competitor, with a strong work ethic and tremendous passion for the game. Her doubles skills are her greatest strength and she has made big strides in her singles game throughout the course of her sophomore year. Late in the season, we saw glimpses of greatness, and I’m sure this will have a very positive carry over affect to our upcoming season."

One sophomore, Wiveca Swarting, will also be returning from last season. The native of Sweden impressed many with her play as a freshman last season, going 14-7 in singles and 14-8 in doubles play, the second highest win totals on the team, during the spring 2007 season. Swarting competed at the No. 3 singles position all last season, and with the departure of last year’s No. 2, Diana Kuhl, will be the front-runner for the No. 2 spot behind Reimers this season.

"Wiv made amazing strides her freshman year and became stronger as the season went along," Jacobson said. "She has made an incredible commitment to the game and is constantly working to better herself. She has tremendous self-discipline, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic. Her commitment to tournament play this past summer will only enhance her comfort level and self-confidence as she competes for our team this spring."

Newcomers
Four talented freshmen will join the fray this season in Jana Albers, Abby Buxton, Amber Chandronnait and Stephanie Evans.

The four freshmen will gain from the experience and talent of the five returners surrounding them, and they will help add depth and fresh legs to a Husker team that was often short-handed last season. Jacobson has no doubt that all four will be able to step in and contribute immediately. Here’s what Jacobson had to say about the four newcomers:

"Amber certainly has the eye of the tiger when competing. She is a tenacious competitor, with a never-give-up attitude. She comes to Nebraska with a great all-around court game. Amber can hit through you from the baseline, and attack you if you leave the ball in mid-court. She is a heavy hitter off the baseline and is willing to mix it up with her serve and volley game. She has all the tools to have a positive impact on our program her freshman year in both singles and doubles."

"Abby is a tremendous competitor and will lead by example through her work ethic, drive and commitment. She is a very positive individual with a strong mindset. We believe Abby’s upside is great, as she gets quicker and stronger in college. She is a solid baseline player, and has the ability to attack when an opponent leaves the ball short."

"Stephanie has tremendous footwork and a strong mindset. She loves the game, loves to compete, and is someone who will get much stronger with the opportunities to compete on a daily basis with individuals of similar skill level. One of her greatest strengths is her attitude. A true fighter and a true believer."

"Jana has all the tools to be an upper lineup player for our program her freshman year. She hits a very heavy ball off the baseline and has an attacking style. She has shown tremendous work ethic this fall and is passionate about the game. We believe the upside for Jana is great, and are looking forward to watching her progress."

With a strong and talented lineup, Jacobson enters his 17th season as head coach of the Huskers, and is the all-time winningest and longest-serving coach in Nebraska history. Jacobson earned his 200th victory last season in NU’s second match of the season against Wyoming, a 6-1 win. Jacobson enters the 2007-08 season with a 211-150 record.

Joining Jacobson is assistant coach Hayden Perez, who will be in his third season at that position for the Huskers. Perez was the winner of last year’s ITA Central Region Assistant Coach-of-the-Year award, and was one of eight semifinalists for National Assistant Coach of the Year.

Nebraska opens its spring season with seven straight home matches before kicking off Big 12 play at IowaState. The Huskers then come back for another five-match homestand before setting off on the longest road trip of the season, playing five straight matches away from Lincoln. The Huskers will play 15 of their 22 matches in Lincoln, including 12 of their first 13 overall.

The Huskers will play their home matches at the NebraskaTennisCenter for the second season after breaking in the new facility last year. Nebraska went 9-3 at the complex last season, and has 15 home matches slated for this season.

"The impact of having a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor tennis facility will have a tremendously positive impact on our program," Jacobson said. "We have been welcomed with open arms by all involved with NTC and it certainly feels like our home."

All of the pieces are in place for the Huskers to make a run this season at the NCAA Championships. Although they were not able to make it last season, an invite this season would make it Nebraska’s third in the past four seasons. NU has the leadership, experience and talent needed to become one of the top programs in the nation.