100405_sp_wtennis.c
Headline: Aggies run off seven straight
Layercake: UC Davis climbs above .500 mark after beating the Grizzlies, Pilots
By MARCOS RODRIGUEZ
Aggie Sports Writer
Untarnished and flawless.
This is the most accurate way to describe the Aggies’ home record this season and recent seven-game win streak.
With wins over Montana and Portland this past week, UC Davis (9-7) boasts a winning record for the first time this year. Coach Bill Maze explained the achievement as just another step that required little praise.
“It’s nice to move into a winning record,” Maze said. “We don’t pay attention to that, though. Our effort and attitude are what we’re concerned with.”
The Aggies have racked up nine consecutive victories in home games this year. Maze said the team has built up major confidence after such a brutal road schedule.
This weekend, UC Davis defeated Montana 7-0 for its fifth straight team sweep. The No. 3 doubles pair of Lauren Curry and Noelle Eades [cq] held on for 8-7 win against their Grizzlies opponents.
Desiree Stone [cq] has continued to perform while being bothered by an injury that has affected the best weapon in her arsenal. The North Hollywood, Calif. native still pressed her Grizzlies opponent the entire match and walked away with a 6-3, 7-5 win.
“Desiree has an injury that keeps hanging on so she has to serve underhand,” Maze said. “But she still deserves to be No. 1.”
Another previously ailing Aggie player, Sidney Brady, toughed it out once again and won her match 6-3, 6-2. She finished off her Portland opponent with a 6-1, 6-0 on Friday to maintain her lead as the team leader with 11 singles wins.
The Aggies claimed a 4-1 victory over Portland to not only extend their win streak to seven, but to give the team its longest string of victories in over five years.
Although Stone and Brady have taken the spotlight for much of the season, Maze believes the underrated play of Dahra Zamudio has gone somewhat unnoticed. The Orange, Calif. local was the team’s MVP last season and won both her matches last week 6-1, 6-1 and 7-5, 6-1, respectively.
“Zamudio has been rock solid,” Maze said. “She’s really clutch and has gotten better as the season has gone on. She deserves a lot of credit. “
Aggies’ No. 3 singles player, Herzyl Legaspi, wasn’t able to finish her match on Friday because her team had already clinched the victory.
With another Big West Conference match on Tuesday, Maze said it’s exciting to think what Brady and Stone can accomplish once healthy because he’s already witnessed what they do at half strength.
“It gives us more confidence as a whole,” he said. “It eases the mind from a coaching standpoint, but it’s good to see them getting stronger with each match.”
While this sudden turnaround may have most casual observers scratching their heads, Maze has been privy to the team’s feisty nature all season long.
“The main thing is it’s a gutsy group,” he said. “We have a lot of fighters and it shows in the results.”
MARCOS RODRIGUEZ can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.
