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The University of Utah Athletics
Robbins Looks For Winning Season
10/19/2000 12:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 19, 2000
The University of Utah men's tennis team has taken on the challenge of resurrecting a program which last attained a winning season in 1997. Coach F.D. Robbins has helped the Utes tennis team put together a solid core of athletes, which include six returning letterwinners, a transfer who played the No. 1 position at Weber State last season, and a returning red-shirt from last season.
Joining the coaching staff, is former Ute player Trevor Ferguson. Ferguson finished his last year of eligibility last season and is serving as an assistant coach for 2001. Ferguson boasted an impressive record for Utah and will assist Robbins while he finishes his degree.
In the past, the Utes have enjoyed the success of thirteen team conference championships, five conference singles champions, and five doubles conference champions. This year Utah's challenge is to re-establish themselves as a major contender in the Mountain West Conference.
Last season, the Utes finished fifth in conference play with 2-4 conference and 9-14 overall record. With a very strong schedule, including matches against Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, USC, and top-ranked Stanford, the Utes record was sacrificed by tennis powerhouse, Pac-10 conference. Utah hopes that the experience gained from facing top-ranked opponents will carry into the 2001 season.
The Utes pummeled Utah State and Weber State in the 2000 season, and split matches against conference rival BYU to gather a 3-1 record against in-state schools. They also put up impressive victories against Air Force, Idaho State, Portland, and Dartmouth.
Utah will endure another tough schedule in 2001. Arizona and Arizona State will be challenges in February, California and USC in March, and in April, the Utes will face Stanford at home.
The Utes conference schedule includes matches against BYU, Air Force, New Mexico, UNLV, and San Diego State. Robbins is enthusiastic about the 2001 season, particularly the conference matches. "We have a good schedule," says Robbins. "We play against some great teams. Mostly, we are excited about playing the teams in the conference. This is the first year that we have ever had equality throughout the conference. Anyone can beat anyone. It is going to be a close race to see who wins because everyone is so close to each other."
The Mountain West Conference Championships will wrap up the season at the end of April, with Utah as its host in Salt Lake City. "If we could get people from the school and the community to come to the conference championships, then it will be a big advantage to us (Utah) to host them here," says Robbins.
Robbins hopes that the depth of this year's team will help the Utes to move up in the conference standings. "We have good depth. We have at least three players that will contend for the No. 1 spot on the team. We also have strength at the bottom, and that will be a big asset that could help us to win."
The 2001 team blends a combination of four juniors, two sophomores, a senior and a freshman. "We have a good mix of young and experienced players," said Robbins. "I'm looking for the returning players to step it up and establish themselves. I'm confident that they will."
Daniel Carlsson compiled the best record for Utah last season, with a 13-8 record and will return to the team as a sophomore. In 2000, Carlsson played the No. 3 and 4 positions for the Utes, but Robbins looks to move him up in the lineup this season and possibly using him at the No. 1 spot. "He is a good player and a really hard worker," says Robbins. "We think that he can make a very good impact on the team this year."
As the only returning senior on the team, Kevin Zenger is expected to make a mark for the the Utes in 2001. Zenger is a serve and volley style player who likes to get to the net. He is a top- notch doubles player, who is expected to play with teammate Nik Yip as the No. 1 doubles team. "We are looking for Kevin to move up in the singles lineup this year. He is the team captain and it is important that he steps up to be a team leader," says Robbins.
Yip, who excelled last season in the doubles ranks is expected to establish himself in the singles category for this season. He and Zenger show promise as one of the top doubles teams in the conference.
David Mercier played at the No. 1 spot most of last season and is anticipated to play in the top portion of the lineup in 2001. Mercier, also an accomplished doubles player, is a former Canadian junior doubles champion. He transferred to Utah before last season from the Division II. National Champion Lander University. "I look for him to have a great year this year," says Robbins. "He gained a lot of experience from playing in the top spot last season. He played against some of the top players in the nation."
The Utes have added Weber State transfer Corrie Sheepers to their lineup. Sheepers played the No. 1 spot for Weber in 1999 and 2000. "He is going to have a huge impact on the team. He is talented and a very hard worker. We are excited to have him playing for us," says Robbins.
Patrick Wallebring will return to the team as a junior. Wallebring transferred to Utah at the beginning of the 2000 season and showed the talent and ability to compete at the collegiate level. This season is promising for Wallebring, who is expected to establish himself in the singles lineup. Kaisorn Chaichana will also be counted upon to provide the team with depth. Chaichana, a sophomore, saw limited action last year. His 61-2 singles record in high school, though, proves that he has what it takes to compete.
Tyler Poulson had knee surgery last year and red-shirted to maintain freshman eligibility. Poulson is expected to be fully recovered by the time the season starts. In high school, he was ranked No. 1 in 5A singles and won the Utah state singles championship. "He should help us out a lot," says Robbins. "If he is ready, he will compete for us in January. It would definitely be good for us to have him in the lineup."
Robbins is confident that the 2001 season will be a good one for the Utes. "We are going to have a good, competitive team. I'm excited about the good players that we have and the team chemistry I think that the guys we have will be willing to execute the strategies that we set out on the court to play, and I think we will have a good showing this year."
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