Extended break hinders Rebels women’s tennis
As many university students and staff across the country returned to school on Tuesday, those at UNLV looked forward to one more week of rest and relaxation.
All except for Rebels women’s tennis coach Kevin Cory.
Cory, whose team will host the elite Freeman Memorial tournament at Fertitta Tennis Complex beginning Jan. 13, could have done without the extra week of downtime.
“Most schools started Tuesday,” the coach said. “They will have a full two weeks to prepare for our tournament, which is one of the strongest events in the country.”
Indeed, the No. 36 Rebels will have just one week to prepare for a tournament that includes top-ranked Florida, No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Duke, No. 4 North Carolina and No. 5. UCLA.
“It’s brutal,” Cory said. “My players will come back Sunday, they’ll start practice on Monday and they’ll be competing against top-five teams on Friday.”
Cory admits that he has only himself to blame for the dilemma, as he has the option of cutting early tournament play from the schedule. But he is unwilling to drop a tourney that consistently draws the top programs in the country, especially when the action takes place on the Rebels’ home court.
“We like to think that playing at home gives us a little advantage,” Cory said.
His players will take any edge they can get, as they typically return from winter break in mediocre shape, according to Cory.
“Most of them take the month off,” he said. “It’s clear on the first day of practice. You can tell who’s been working out and who hasn’t. First, the blisters start, then shoulders start hurting, and I have to give them the ‘I told you so’ speech.”
UNLV men’s coach Owen Hambrook doesn’t understand Cory’s quandary. Even though his team also will start against elite competition, the Rebels’ season opener at No. 2 Southern California won’t take place until Jan. 28.
“I guess it all depends on the schedule,” Hambrook said. “But my guys are usually very good about working out over the break, so it doesn’t really affect us.”
The coach said the extra preparation time comes by design.
“I usually don’t schedule anything for at least a week in,” he said.
But Cory is eager to give his players a taste of high-level play before the dual-meet season, and he thinks his squad has a chance to pull off some upsets despite the conditioning disadvantage.
“What typically happens is we’re not the only team that faces this,” Cory said. “So some of those top players are ripe for an upset. There’s a good chance you can sneak up on someone.”
Cory has the personnel to get the job done.
Sophomore Aleksandra Josifoska enters as the top-ranked player in the Mountain region. She won the ITA regional title in October before upsetting third-ranked Kristy Frilling of Notre Dame 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of consolation play at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships in November.
Sophomore Lucia Batta, the winner of the 2010 ITA regional, enters as the No. 2 singles player in the region, and junior Nives Pavlovic is ranked seventh.
Cory said Josifoska and Batta, in particular, will have multiple opportunities to prove their worth.
“Both have proven that they can compete with any player in the country,” he said. “You never know. Either one of them can win when they have a good day.”
After the three-day Freeman Memorial, the Rebels will open their dual-meet season when they host New Mexico State on Jan. 20.