PAGE 44E AUGUST.1996
KUED·SPORTS
LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
'I think they're excited about it'
Can KU continue climb in men's tennis?
BY ROBERT SINCLAIR
JOURNAL WORLD SPORTS WRITER
Losing its coach in midsummer and not having any seniors, Kansas' men's tennis team might be in trouble as it tries to win the first-ever Big 12 Conference championship.
Then again, maybe the Jayhawks won't have anything to worry about during the 1997 season.
"I think we went to a level that we had never been to before — cracking the top 10 in the country last year," former KU coach Michael Center said of last season's success. "Obviously any time you move forward in a program, you want to try and continue to move forward."
Sometimes that's easier said than done.
"It will be a real challenge for the team, but I think they're excited about it," Center said. "They have the talent and they have the desire. I think realistically they should try and shoot for the top five."
The Jayhawks (25-6) achieved a top 10 ranking for the first time in school history last year, making it to the Sweet 16 during the NCAA's postseason tournament before losing to Georgia. The team also won the final Big Eight Conference championship, its third in a row and ninth overall.
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"You've got five guys returning who had significant playing time last year," Center said. "We really had kind of a sevenman rotation."
Translation: Kansas might have lost its fourth-year head coach and lost Victor Fimbres and Michael Isroff to graduation, but what remains is a battle-tested group.
"Enrique has pro potential," Center said. "He's just going to have to continue to discipline himself to be ready to perform day in and day out. That has got to be his biggest challenge, to stay away from the peaks and valleys, really do the little things mentally and physically that it takes to be a great player."
Abaroa, who was nationally ranked most of the year, finished with a 30-16 record. He was one of four Jayhawks to go undefeated during the Big Eight season, along with Fimbres, sophomore Fernando Sierraand junior Xavier Avila.
KU also has junior Enrique Abaroa.
MEN'S TENNIS
"I would definitely think that Enrique comes back as the No. 1 guy and I think he'll be top 10 in the country," Center said. "He's an All-American singles player and one of the best doubles players in the country. He's the team leader and I would expect him to play No. 1.
As for Abaroa's supporting staff, Avila (24-4) is the most likely candidate to replace Fimbres at the No. 2 position.
"After that, it really will be up to guys to play themselves into positions."
"Xavier had one of the most incredible seasons I've ever
seen for any player, anywhere," Center said. "So he'll be a strong player."
Sophomore Luis Uribe (28-13) and junior Trent Tucker (29-15) return along with junior Scott Marshall (4-5).
"Fernando Sierra is a sleeping giant," Center said. "His talent level was untapped."
(Los Angeles). Ryan Baxter, a recruit from South Africa, will arrive on campus in January.
Behind the returning players are red-shirt freshmen Jeff Erin and Bryan Maier as well as transfer Andrew Lumpkin (Colorado State) and incoming freshman Matthew Snowdon
"Of that group somebody is going to have to step forward and be ready to contribute," Center said. "But the core of the team is intact — there's a lot of experience — and there's no seniors."
"I think these guys have a lot to build on in the next couple of years."
28 record over two seasons of coaching the women before that, had some advice for his successor.
"The thing about coaching at KU that was always so easy for me is I always believed in this school so much," Center said. "I went to school here and I played here and when you sell something that you believe in, it's a lot easier to sell it."
Center, who compiled an 83-28 record during his four seasons with the men and a 39-
Note: The Jayhawks had not named a new coach at the time of publication.
FILE PHOTO
Enrique Abaroa returns for his junior season.