Tennis finishes strong season
By Erin Chambers
It was awards, records and top-half finishes for both men's and women's tennis at the close of the 2002 spring season.
The No. 57 men's team closed the season with a 5-0 loss to Loyola Marymount in the West Coast Conference tournament. The Broncos clinched fourth place in league and boast an outstanding 18-8 record on the season.
Freshman Chris Lam was honored as WCC Freshman of the Year, doubles partners junior Rick Ruso and sophomore Erich Chen received honorable mention, and Head Coach Sean Burns received the WCC Coach of the Year award for the fourth time in his career.
Burns, who also received the award in 1997, 1998 and 2000, led the Broncos to an 18-8 record this season and their highest ever national ranking at No. 55 earlier this month.
Lam's award is the first ever freshman of the year honor for the men's program. No. 104 nationally, Lam played most of the season at No. 1 singles and ended the season with a stellar 25-9 record. Highlights of his play in 2002 include an 11-match win streak, three wins over ranked opponents, and the first ever debut by a Bronco in national ITA rankings.
The women's team continued the strong season-ending performances as they earned their highest finish ever in league this year, capturing third place with a tough 4-3 victory over Portland in the WCC Tournament.
"This was a total team effort," Head Coach Aby Ryan said. "We've come a long way this season and it's because these girls have heart."
Freshman Janalle Kaloi shared WCC Freshman of the Year honors with Veronica Koksova of Pepperdine, while junior Christine Limbers was given honorable mention in singles.
Kaloi, who also received honorable mention in doubles with her partner junior Mariko Kawakami, is the program's first rookie to be honored Freshman of the Year. The 5'7" Hawaiian native posted impressive numbers across the board during her debut season including 20 singles wins and a 10-6 doubles record with Kawakami, 6-2 in conference action.
Kaloi's consecutive 6-0, 6-0 singles victories early on against UC Santa Barbara and Northern Arizona University foreshadowed an outstanding season and also earned her singles Player of the Month honors back in February. By the season's end, Kaloi had a fairly regular gig in the No. 2 spot just behind Limbers.
Limbers' honorable mention for singles marks the first WCC recognition of her career. Defeating two ranked opponents and maintaining a 17-14 record over the dual season, Limbers led the Broncos all year in the No. 1 spot. The 5'6" junior, who posted the fourth best single season mark last year, will continue to lead next year at No. 1 as Ryan will return five seniors in 2003.