HOME OF BULLDOG WOMEN'S TENNIS - 1980, 2005, 2008, 2009 SCIAC Champions

Following last season’s trip to the third round of the NCAA Championships, the University of Redlands women’s tennis team remains committed to excelling in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and beyond during the 2010 campaign. Ranked No. 9 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) preseason poll, the Bulldogs look forward to the rewards of hard work and dedication while remaining committed to a family-like atmosphere.

Redlands’ 2009 conference co-championship marked its third title in five years and fourth overall. But the Maroon and Gray holds high expectations for capturing sole possession of the crown and advancing further into the postseason with four experienced returnees leading the way. In addition, the team welcomes a vibrant and hungry class of newcomers that solidifies the Bulldogs’ lineup for success.

Senior Paige Sumida (Hilo, HI) enters her fourth season with the Bulldogs as a decorated and versatile competitor. Her ability to keep the team motivated and energized, along with her all-court tennis game, makes her invaluable to the Bulldogs. Look for this First-Team All-SCIAC performer to play a vital role in the singles and doubles lineups, building off of her Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-America selections from 2009.

Building off of three years of outstanding experience together, Sumida and senior Whitney Waters (Austin, TX) create a lethal combination in doubles. With incredible chemistry and a seamless style, they finished out last season as the No. 5 duo in the country and earned ITA All-America honors. These achievements, along with their recent championship at the Wilson ITA West Region Fall Tournament, serve as great motivation for an even more impressive showing in 2010.

After struggling with an injury in 2009, Waters shows readiness to leave her mark in singles as a focused and fiery competitor. Her passion and determination in doubles drive her to capitalize on her opportunities in singles. Count on her to make big contributions in her final season with the Bulldogs.

Following a First-Team All-SCIAC performance in 2009, junior Rachael Miller (Newport Beach, CA) enters the upcoming campaign as a more diverse and aggressive player than ever before. This strong baseliner can really control the point but also boasts the skills to move forward to the net when she needs to. A leader-by-example, Miller offers the willingness to do what it takes to make her team better, both on and off the court.

Look for Miller to join forces with junior Sara Yoshinaga (Honolulu, HI) in doubles action. This duo gained experience in 2009 and expects to build off of that momentum with continued hard work and a more defined determination as veteran competitors.

With her great hands at the net and incredible ball-striking ability, Yoshinaga simply makes the game look easy. She enters the upcoming season more committed to really working hard at every chance, which bodes well for her success and the team’s. Look for this Second-Team All-SCIAC honoree to surprise her opponents with her outstanding play and diligence on the court.

Senior Sutton Anderson (Breckenridge, CO) returns for her final season as a great ball-striker who strives to translate her abilities into strong match play. As she continues to develop her mental game, she offers an excellent option in doubles while pushing for opportunities in the singles lineup.

The Bulldogs also welcome back senior Carrie McCann (McMinnville, OR) and sophomore Nicole Gerentine (Austin, TX). McCann emanates the definition of a team player as she consistently and willingly reveals her altruistic and happy-go-lucky attitude. Her solid baseline skills also provide depth to the team. After winning the consolation bracket at the Wilson ITA West Region Fall Tournament, Gerentine boasts the desire and the tools to compete at a high level. Expect her to become a more aggressive player as she utilizes her athleticism to break into the scoring lineup for singles and doubles.

Redlands looks forward to the contributions of freshman Julia Galbraith (Tacoma, WA) as a well-polished competitor with an excellent foundation to work off of. She posted solid results at the fall tournament and looks to continue improving in her first year with the Bulldogs.

In addition, freshman Amanda Alvarez (Pomona, CA) brings power from the baseline as an excellent ball-striker. As she works to develop more consistency and patience in her point-construction, she strives to vie for opportunities within the top eight.

The Bulldogs also anticipate the contributions of sophomore transfer Katherine Guimapang (Norwalk, CA), who hails from Cal Lutheran University. She serves as the team’s sparkplug with positive energy and enthusiasm.

Finally, rounding out the roster are sophomore Tessa Azar (Yorba Linda, CA) and freshmen Claudia Llanes (Miami Beach, FL) and Sam Dodson (Alamorgordo, NM). Equipped with the fundamental skills needed to succeed, they all offer potential for growth as they foster their collegiate tennis games.

Outside of the new players blending with the veterans, the Bulldogs boast a fresh staff of coaches to lead the way. A familiar face of Bulldog tennis, Head Coach Geoff Roche returns to oversee the women’s program while guiding the men’s team. In addition, Redlands welcomes Dave Donn at the forefront of the coaching staff after a successful stint leading the Williams College (MA) men’s tennis program to back-to-back quarterfinal appearances. Beyond Division III experience, he offers a history and expectation of NCAA success. Dunya Wren joins the Bulldogs as an assistant coach following her competitive playing years at Cal Baptist University. Together, they create an impressive résumé that promises to lead this hungry crew of student-athletes to the next level of Bulldog women’s tennis.

“My goal as a coach is to make sure we stay focused on improving everyday that we take the courts.” Donn stated. “We cannot always control how well we play, but we can control our effort. We are striving to be as physically and mentally tough as any team in the country. Hopefully when teams take the court against us they’ll know they are in for a grind from the first point to the last.”

One focus that Donn is not shy about sharing is the development of their doubles game. Although the Bulldogs boast a history of top competitors, including the nation’s fifth-ranked duo in Sumida and Waters, he wants to help everyone become “more comfortable at the net and more aggressive overall.”

As history shows, the Redlands women’s tennis program takes on the best opponents on an annual basis and the 2010 schedule is no different. With eight nationally-ranked teams, including No. 2 Williams, the Bulldogs expect to be challenged during every week of the season. Within the SCIAC, No. 7 Pomona-Pitzer Colleges remains the team to beat. However, Redlands owns the tools and the personnel to compete at a high level throughout the 2010 campaign, with a trip to the NCAA Championships as the ultimate goal.

“I believe we are certainly capable of competing with any team in the country. The difficulty of our schedule will give us constant reminders throughout the season of where we stand and what we need to improve upon,” commented Donn. “We have a lot of pieces in place and a lot of doable and manageable things to improve upon that will put us in a position to succeed this year.”

With a fun yet highly competitive environment at training, the team exudes excitement to be there and to work hard. Their family-like atmosphere translates into an intensely united effort during matches.

“There is a lot of work to be done but we have a talented and hard-working group of women who are ready to compete. It’s been a refreshing and welcoming experience to join this team. I truly enjoy showing up to practice everyday and that’s a testament to the quality young women I get to coach,” Donn added.