2008 Woodie Awards
Bears bound for Big Sky tourney
Jakob Rodgers
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports
The University of Northern Colorado women's tennis team prepares to make its first appearance at the Big Sky Tournament, and junior Manuela Santos is more than ready for the task at hand.
The Bears will put what they have learned this season to the test at 10 a.m. today when UNC takes on Montana State in the opening round of the Big Sky Championship in Sacramento, Calif. Appearing in the championship, the tennis team becomes the fourth team to qualify for postseason play in the Big Sky in school history.
"It's about time," Santos said. "We've been working on it, you know, like, we deserve it. I'm really glad we're going because if we were not, we'd look back and, like 'man, we worked for, you know, nothing basically.' "
Junior Tiffany Knop said the challenge of playing in the tournament is one she welcomes.
"I think we're all pretty excited," Knop said. "We're all pretty pumped. It'll give us a chance to get some revenge on some of the teams we've lost to, so we're excited. I think we're ready."
UNC (3-5, 7-13) will get its chance for redemption when they play third-seeded Montana State (6-2, 11-5), who defeated the Bears 7-0 on Feb. 7 in Bozeman, Mont. The Bobcats head into the match on a four-match winning streak and have won six of their last seven.
The sixth-seeded Bears are also entering the tournament on a roll as they have won three of their last four matches, which have included road wins over Big Sky foes Weber State and Idaho State to clinch a spot in the tournament.
Junior Tabatha Knop, Tiffany's sister, has led the way for the Bears, posting a 12-8 mark on the year while going 14-5 in doubles play with Santos. Santos holds a team-best three-match win steak and is currently second on the team with a 10-9 singles record.
According to coach Brenda Vlasak, the late season surge and the upcoming tournament match are nothing to be surprised about. This year's team, she said, is the hardest working group of players she has ever coached in her six seasons at UNC.
"No, I'm not surprised by any means," Vlasak said. "I mean, these girls, they worked their butts throughout the entire season, so they deserve it."
Vlasak said she just hopes that their hard work continues to pay off.
"I just think that we've improved so much throughout the season that we're playing some of our best tennis right now," Vlasak said. "Hopefully we'll be playing our best tennis when Friday rolls around."
The Bears will put what they have learned this season to the test at 10 a.m. today when UNC takes on Montana State in the opening round of the Big Sky Championship in Sacramento, Calif. Appearing in the championship, the tennis team becomes the fourth team to qualify for postseason play in the Big Sky in school history.
"It's about time," Santos said. "We've been working on it, you know, like, we deserve it. I'm really glad we're going because if we were not, we'd look back and, like 'man, we worked for, you know, nothing basically.' "
Junior Tiffany Knop said the challenge of playing in the tournament is one she welcomes.
"I think we're all pretty excited," Knop said. "We're all pretty pumped. It'll give us a chance to get some revenge on some of the teams we've lost to, so we're excited. I think we're ready."
UNC (3-5, 7-13) will get its chance for redemption when they play third-seeded Montana State (6-2, 11-5), who defeated the Bears 7-0 on Feb. 7 in Bozeman, Mont. The Bobcats head into the match on a four-match winning streak and have won six of their last seven.
The sixth-seeded Bears are also entering the tournament on a roll as they have won three of their last four matches, which have included road wins over Big Sky foes Weber State and Idaho State to clinch a spot in the tournament.
Junior Tabatha Knop, Tiffany's sister, has led the way for the Bears, posting a 12-8 mark on the year while going 14-5 in doubles play with Santos. Santos holds a team-best three-match win steak and is currently second on the team with a 10-9 singles record.
According to coach Brenda Vlasak, the late season surge and the upcoming tournament match are nothing to be surprised about. This year's team, she said, is the hardest working group of players she has ever coached in her six seasons at UNC.
"No, I'm not surprised by any means," Vlasak said. "I mean, these girls, they worked their butts throughout the entire season, so they deserve it."
Vlasak said she just hopes that their hard work continues to pay off.
"I just think that we've improved so much throughout the season that we're playing some of our best tennis right now," Vlasak said. "Hopefully we'll be playing our best tennis when Friday rolls around."
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