DEPTH TO HELP PLNU WOMEN'S TENNIS TAKE NEXT STEP IN 2024

(SAN DIEGO) After making back-to-back NCAA West Regional appearances, the first two in program history, PLNU Women’s Tennis is hoping to take the next step in 2024.

“I’m really excited for the women’s team this year,” Head Coach Curt Wheeler said. “The team chemistry, the work ethic and the motivation have been phenomenal amongst the new players and the returners as well.

“Last year and the year before were great seasons but I think this group is very motivated and focused on taking it one step further, hoping that we can host a regional match, win that regional match and then move onto the national playoffs.

“This team is plenty talented enough and has the ability to do it. Those big matches it’s just going to come down to staying true to who they are and playing their game. If they do that, there’s not a team that they can’t beat.”

One of the attributes that makes Wheeler confident in his group ahead of the new season is its depth.

“Every single player on the team is one who can be competitive and push any other player on the team,” Wheeler said. “The depth that we have has been a big strength for us and is going to be a big strength for us going forward in terms of having a great chance of winning at every spot.

“If that depth is giving us a huge advantage at certain spots as well, sometimes that’s the difference between winning and losing if you can be overwhelmingly dominating at a couple spots and then there’s a bunch of others that you’re close with. Having a couple of those spots that are one-sided can go a long way.”

Point Loma showcased its depth in September at the ITA West Regional Tournament in Fresno, at which four Sea Lions reached the Round of 16 in singles.

“I think it was a great tournament for the women’s team,” Wheeler said. “Always as a freshman, that first competition is difficult coming from where they’re just playing in tournaments by themselves to now playing for a school, playing for a team.

“I think the freshmen handled it very well. They were ready and competed well. I saw a lot of good tennis from the five freshmen and I also saw good tennis from the returners.”

ROSTER

Point Loma returns three players from last year’s squad while adding five freshmen.

The returners include All-PacWest performers Arianna Audelo, the team’s No. 1 singles player the past two seasons, and Thelma Sepulveda who posted a dominant 20-2 record in 2023.

Senior Amanda Letzring won 13 singles matches a season ago.

“All three have improved and gotten better from last year,” Wheeler said. “I know they’re all very motivated and hungry, so they’re going to be huge parts of our success this year.

“Not only for themselves, but being leaders for the freshmen coming in and experiencing their first college tennis. They’ve done a great job leading the freshmen so I’m excited to see what they do this spring.”

The five freshmen Sea Lions this year are Quin Brady, Jazyln Miyamura, Anna Pallencaoe, Emely Valencia and Melissa Zirkle.

“I’ve been impressed with all five,” Wheeler said. “They were already great players when they came in, but the improvement they’ve all made from the fall going into the spring, it just shows how competitive they are with each other and they’re pushing each other in a great way.

“They want to be the best but also understand the team chemistry. The love and support they have for one another is a really special thing to see. It’s hard to name anyone in particular because I think all five are going to be important pieces.”

Wheeler said the returning players have done a great job integrating the freshmen into the team.

“It's been great,” Wheeler said. “You attribute a lot of that to our two seniors and our junior for helping with that transition. They’ve been great leaders in that way and it makes my job a lot easier. They want the team to be great and I know they’re great friends as well.

“It’s a special dynamic in college sports but especially in an individual sport where they’re beating each other some days and losing to each other some days. It’s not an easy thing and they’ve done a tremendous job of it.”

SCHEDULE

PLNU opens its season at home on Saturday against Azusa Pacific.

Point Loma then concludes its regular season on April 13 at home against Westmont ahead of the PacWest Championships April 17-20 in Surprise, Arizona at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club.

The Sea Lions are coming off their best-ever finish at the PacWest Championships, finishing third last season, as the team hopes to win its first PacWest title this season.

“It’s really playing our best tennis in the big matches,” Wheeler said of what that will take. “Every conference, every DII match is a big match, but once we get to the conference tournament, once we get to the regional playoffs, obviously hosting a regional is a big advantage in getting to play on your home courts.

“In our conference, but probably in most conferences, whoever is hosting has a big advantage. Over the last five years, the team hosting is probably winning 80-90% of those regional matches. 

“I say that with the women’s team doing a phenomenal job playing at Hawai’i Pacific and was a couple points away from pulling the upset as the seeds would say the last two years. The first goal is hosting that regional, so finishing in the top two in the conference, but I know they’re focused on winning the conference and getting that No. 1 overall seed and then facing the four seed.”

The NCAA West Regional is scheduled for either May 10 or 11, with the NCAA Championships to follow May 20-25 in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

To view PLNU's full schedule, click HERE.