2008 Woodie Awards
Men's tennis to compete in New Orleans
JASON BUTT
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Sports
The No. 2 Georgia men's tennis team has one last individual event before it begins its quest for a second-straight national championship.
The Bulldogs will be in New Orleans today, taking part in the SEC Indoors Tournament.
The SEC Indoors Tournament is an individual tournament with players from each SEC school participating as individuals rather than teams. While the event does not go towards each team's record, the matches will count towards each player's individual ranking.
Head coach Manuel Diaz said he hopes this tournament, along with the first few dual matches, can help him finalize a lineup for the upcoming team season, as he does not have a lineup set yet.
"We'll have to play our first team events a week from this weekend and so that's awfully quick," Diaz said. "We might not have the ultimate lineup, but we are going to have to put guys on the court and make the best decisions we can with what information we have."
After this tournament, Georgia will open its dual match season with Stanford as the No. 2 ranked team in the country, behind No. 1 Virginia.
While a No. 2-ranking would normally indicate Georgia is among the elite, Diaz said he thinks his Bulldogs are being a little overlooked.
"We've got a talented team, and we are flying a little bit under the radar and some folks are leaving us for dead a little bit," Diaz said. "I feel we can compete among the best in the conference and hopefully among the best in the nation by the year's end. We just have to have some of these guys come of age and have good teamwork."
Diaz said he will be looking at No. 4 Travis Helgeson and Luis Flores, both seniors, to step up for the departed Isner and Omerzel.
"We hope to have guys step up and really improve their games, and we feel like in Luis and Travis, we have two seniors worthy of playing one and two," Diaz said. "They'll be among the elite players in the country."
Sophomore Nate Schnugg, who played No. 5 singles last year, comes into this season ranked No. 17, and sophomore Jamie Hunt, who played at No. 6, is No. 67.
Diaz added that sophomore Christian Vitulli and junior Josh Varela should provide quality depth.
"(Vitulli and Varela) had terrific falls," Diaz said.
"They have solidified our lineup and given us a little luxury in the fact we know we have plenty of depth to be able to compete in our conference, and hopefully they will have the opportunity to play pivotal roles."
The Bulldogs will be in New Orleans today, taking part in the SEC Indoors Tournament.
The SEC Indoors Tournament is an individual tournament with players from each SEC school participating as individuals rather than teams. While the event does not go towards each team's record, the matches will count towards each player's individual ranking.
Head coach Manuel Diaz said he hopes this tournament, along with the first few dual matches, can help him finalize a lineup for the upcoming team season, as he does not have a lineup set yet.
"We'll have to play our first team events a week from this weekend and so that's awfully quick," Diaz said. "We might not have the ultimate lineup, but we are going to have to put guys on the court and make the best decisions we can with what information we have."
After this tournament, Georgia will open its dual match season with Stanford as the No. 2 ranked team in the country, behind No. 1 Virginia.
While a No. 2-ranking would normally indicate Georgia is among the elite, Diaz said he thinks his Bulldogs are being a little overlooked.
"We've got a talented team, and we are flying a little bit under the radar and some folks are leaving us for dead a little bit," Diaz said. "I feel we can compete among the best in the conference and hopefully among the best in the nation by the year's end. We just have to have some of these guys come of age and have good teamwork."
Diaz said he will be looking at No. 4 Travis Helgeson and Luis Flores, both seniors, to step up for the departed Isner and Omerzel.
"We hope to have guys step up and really improve their games, and we feel like in Luis and Travis, we have two seniors worthy of playing one and two," Diaz said. "They'll be among the elite players in the country."
Sophomore Nate Schnugg, who played No. 5 singles last year, comes into this season ranked No. 17, and sophomore Jamie Hunt, who played at No. 6, is No. 67.
Diaz added that sophomore Christian Vitulli and junior Josh Varela should provide quality depth.
"(Vitulli and Varela) had terrific falls," Diaz said.
"They have solidified our lineup and given us a little luxury in the fact we know we have plenty of depth to be able to compete in our conference, and hopefully they will have the opportunity to play pivotal roles."
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