Setting expectations is one thing. Meeting them is another
The goal for the Cal women’s tennis team is to win a NCAA championship come May. But for them, the run to a championship already started in the fall.
Beginning the fall season with two players and two doubles teams nationally ranked, head coach Amanda Augustus knew that the goal was to build off Cal’s success from the previous spring. The Bears fell in the quarterfinals of last season’s NCAA championship.
“The opportunity is there,” Augustus said. “We got to the NCAA quarterfinals last year as a team. The goal is to take it one step further.”
The Bears kicked off the season at home by hosting the Cal Nike Invitational, which featured schools like Saint Mary’s and Arizona State. Cal swept away the competition, winning both the doubles and the singles draws.
Zsofi Susanyi, fresh off a run to the NCAA semifinals last spring, took home the singles title despite falling behind late in the semifinals. She advanced to the finals by winning six straight games in the semi-finals and then seven more in the final match. Her game streak would end at 13, but she steamrolled her way through the finals to win the championship in straight sets.
“Zsofi is experienced and poised, and we were able to talk our way through (the match),” Augustus said. Obviously she did really well, but it’s only going to get better.”
Despite the early success, Cal faltered in its first regional test of the season at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The first grand slam of the season resulted in all four Cal players falling in the second round of the tournament.
The following weekend, the rest of the Cal squad made history as they dominated the field at the Saint Mary’s Invitational at Moraga, Calif. The Bears won the top four draws, as Augustus watched her freshmen players maximize their talent.
“I’m not sure we’ve ever swept this tournament before,” Augustus said.
The second grand slam of the season, the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships at Stanford, saw one Bear in particular take a leap forward. Anett Schutting came through with a memorable run to the finals, in which she eventually came up short.
Augustus explained that Schutting’s progress is due to the newfound consistency and variety to her game, in addition to her fitness.
Schutting took her improvements to the final grand slam of the season, the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in Flushing Meadows, NY.
Just like the previous grand slam, however, Schutting wasn’t able to cash in. She was defeated in the finals by UCLA’s Robin Anderson, 6-3 ,6-4.
Despite the crushing defeat, Augustus was encouraged by the progress Schutting made this season.
“I don’t think its disappointing,” Augustus said. “That was her first national final. Just playing in that final is a huge accomplishment. We’re really excited for her.”
Zsofi Susanyi had a run of her own, as she coasted to the semifinals before falling to the eventual champion. Schutting and Susanyi’s runs means that Cal had two players in the final four at the national grand slam.
The spring rankings may not be released until January, but Augustus is already pleased with her team. Despite losing star player Jana Juricova to graduation last season, the team has remained a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.
“I think people were wondering how’d we respond with losing (Juricova),” Augustus said. “The team is stepping up. I’m really pleased with where we’re at as a team.”
Sean Wagner-McGough covers women’s tennis. Contact him at [email protected]
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