2008 Woodie Awards
Tennis ready to claim League championship
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Sports
Media Credit: UIC AthleticsJunior Adriano Liccardo and the UIC men's tennis team heads to Indianapolis this weekend for the Horizon League championships, looking to finally capture an automatic NCAA birth after three years of second place finishes.
Both UIC's men's and women's tennis teams feel confident that come Sunday, the school will place two squads into the NCAA championships. The winners of the Horizon League championship tournament advance to the NCAAs, and if recent history can project future outcomes, there's no reason to doubt the optimism radiating from the Flames tennis programs.
The women brought a 99-match conference winning streak to this past Saturday's meet against Butler, dating back to 1996. The results of the meet were not yet available at press time. Coach Shannon Tully's team has not lost to a Horizon League opponent since the 1996 MCC championship finals, claiming 11 straight championships.
"To go back to 1996 without losing is a long time," said Tully, now in her seventh season at UIC. "We've definitely dominated as the League has gotten stronger recently. It's been great. We all want to win, we work hard and so far, so good."
"If you're winning the tournament every year you're the favorite. We've definitely had the pressure on us pretty much every year as reigning champions."
That's not to say Tully and the women's team feel invincible every time they take the courts against a Horizon League opponent, they're just not very good at losing.
"We've had some pretty big wins already this season, but it's all about the current day," said Tully. "I never say I expect anything, though, because we could get complacent. Every year is a new year, with new players. I'd rather be the last seed and win the tournament than get the first seed and lose right away."
The men's team, though not as overtly dominant, has been on the cusp of NCAA tournament births the past three years, only to fall in the Horizon League championship to Butler each time out. But coach Hans Neufeld feels that this is the year the team takes the next step.
"We've had a lot of misfortune in the past couple tournaments with injury" said Neufeld, also in his seventh year at UIC. "Last year we had freshman playing the first two positions, but this year we're very healthy. We're still a young team but we're very talented. I think we're going to get them this year."
"I think it's just a matter of taking care of business. This year our out-of-conference schedule has been much tougher, so I think this has the guys ready."
"It's to our advantage to play outdoors because Butler plays at home on an indoor court. Two years ago we had play the championships on their home indoor court because of hail. If the weather cooperates we should be good. Our guys have been playing much better now than they did earlier. I think we're ready."
The Horizon League men's and women's championships kick off on Friday with opening round games. Both meets are held by Butler at North Central High School in Indianapolis, the largest outdoor tennis complex in the Midwest. To follow this weekend's action visit UICFlames.com and HorizonLeague.org.
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The women brought a 99-match conference winning streak to this past Saturday's meet against Butler, dating back to 1996. The results of the meet were not yet available at press time. Coach Shannon Tully's team has not lost to a Horizon League opponent since the 1996 MCC championship finals, claiming 11 straight championships.
"To go back to 1996 without losing is a long time," said Tully, now in her seventh season at UIC. "We've definitely dominated as the League has gotten stronger recently. It's been great. We all want to win, we work hard and so far, so good."
"If you're winning the tournament every year you're the favorite. We've definitely had the pressure on us pretty much every year as reigning champions."
That's not to say Tully and the women's team feel invincible every time they take the courts against a Horizon League opponent, they're just not very good at losing.
"We've had some pretty big wins already this season, but it's all about the current day," said Tully. "I never say I expect anything, though, because we could get complacent. Every year is a new year, with new players. I'd rather be the last seed and win the tournament than get the first seed and lose right away."
The men's team, though not as overtly dominant, has been on the cusp of NCAA tournament births the past three years, only to fall in the Horizon League championship to Butler each time out. But coach Hans Neufeld feels that this is the year the team takes the next step.
"We've had a lot of misfortune in the past couple tournaments with injury" said Neufeld, also in his seventh year at UIC. "Last year we had freshman playing the first two positions, but this year we're very healthy. We're still a young team but we're very talented. I think we're going to get them this year."
"I think it's just a matter of taking care of business. This year our out-of-conference schedule has been much tougher, so I think this has the guys ready."
"It's to our advantage to play outdoors because Butler plays at home on an indoor court. Two years ago we had play the championships on their home indoor court because of hail. If the weather cooperates we should be good. Our guys have been playing much better now than they did earlier. I think we're ready."
The Horizon League men's and women's championships kick off on Friday with opening round games. Both meets are held by Butler at North Central High School in Indianapolis, the largest outdoor tennis complex in the Midwest. To follow this weekend's action visit UICFlames.com and HorizonLeague.org.
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