University Southern California Trojans
Women of Troy To Face UCLA, Wednesday
February 29, 2000 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 29, 2000
This Week -- No. 7 USC (8-2, 2-1 Pac-10) women's tennis returns home to face crosstown foe No. 14 UCLA in the Trojans' third conference match-up of the season. Coming off a 5-1 victory at San Diego State on Saturday (Feb. 26), the Women of Troy will play the Bruins at Marks Tennis Stadium on Wednesday, March 1, at 1:30 p.m.
USC vs. No. 14 UCLA -- Next to Stanford, the USC-UCLA series is one of the Trojans' longest-standing competitions. The two teams will meet Wednesday for the 52nd time in 22 years. USC owns a 30-21 advantage in the all-time series. Last season, the two teams split victories, the Trojans defeated the Bruins, 6-3, at home, but lost, 2-6, in Westwood.
The Trojans' Last Outing -- The Women of Troy halted San Diego State's two-game win streak on Saturday, Feb. 26, with a 5-1 victory at the SDSU East Courts. The Trojans got out to a fast start, taking the No. 1 and 2 singles matches in straight sets. Jewel Peterson defeated San Diego State's Whitney Wells, 6-3, 7-5, at the No. 1 spot, while at No. 2, Jacqui Boyd handed Katja Karrento her first loss in dual match play, 6-4, 6-2. San Diego State's Julie Chidley garnered the only Aztec victory with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Christina Irinco at No. 6. USC elected not to play the doubles portion of the contest after clinching the victory in singles.
USC In The Rankings -- USC moved up seven spots according to the most recent ITA rankings released on Feb. 23. Three Trojans remain ranked and the duo of Tiffany Brymer and Kara Warkentin moved up to 26th in doubles. UCLA will be Troy's fifth (top-50) ranked opponent of the season. USC owns a 2-2 record among the top-50 teams.
Freshmen on Fire -- The success of freshman Jewel Peterson was well recognized entering the 2000 season, but Peterson is not the only freshman that's been on fire. In a quiet manner, Anita Loyola of Tucson, Ariz. has not lost a match since January 8 when she fell to UCLA's Abigail Spears in the second round of the Pac-10 Indoor Tournament. Loyola has yet to lose a match in dual match play, posting a 21-3 overall record since the start of fall competitions.
USC News & Notes -- USC advanced to the USTA/ITA championship quarterfinals for the first time since 1997... The Trojans dropped one spot to No. 13 in the Feb. 23 ITA rankings... With the loss to No. 12 ASU, the Women of Troy are 0-1 against ranked opponents... Three of the four Trojans' ranked in the ITA fall rankings are freshman, #38 Peterson, #93 Loyola, #26 Brymer (Doubles)... USC maintained its team ranking, finishing the 1999 season ranked 10th and starting 2000 10th.
Head Coach Richard Gallien -- Richard Gallien enters his fifth season at the helm of the USC women's tennis program. After guiding the 1999 Trojans to a 21-9 overall record, and a quarterfinal appearance at the NCAAs, he was named Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year. Gallien began his career at Pepperdine, coaching the men's team for three years, before joining the Trojan family. Over the last eight years, he has compiled a 130-71 (.647) overall record and his teams have made four appearances in the NCAA tournament.
