Nov. 7, 2005

Q: What do you look for when recruiting a student-athlete? What does it take to be a Baylor Bear?

A: We look for student-athletes who have a passion to improve in all aspects of their lives. It takes a tenacious person with a positive attitude to be a Baylor tennis player. We are striving for excellence in our program, and we look for that in our recruits.

Q: What do you do to develop the individual tennis player?

A: We simply build on the athletes' strengths and develop in the areas that need improvement. We spend at least two hours a week working one-on-one with each player and use video to help enhance the development process.

Q: After such a triumphant season last year, how do you further motivate an already successful team to be even better?

A: This team got a taste of championship success last season, and I know they want to come back this year and finish what they started. They learned a lot from last season's ups and downs and now better understand what it is going to take to go the distance in May.

Q: Talk about the Baylor tennis complex and what it adds to the program.

A: In my opinion our facility is the best in college tennis. Our team loves to compete in such a great venue that showcases each match equally. When we are playing at home in front of our fans the atmosphere at the complex is truly special.

Q: You play a number of highly ranked teams each year and travel throughout the country. What thought process goes into your scheduling?

A: My philosophy is to play the toughest schedule possible and have my players grow from it. I believe that playing quality opponents each week is the best way to prepare a team for the NCAA Championships in May. Our players are becoming more comfortable in pressure situations and are excited about the opportunities our schedule presents. It is vital that our athletes learn how to play in big match situations during the regular season. This scheduling philosophy has served well in the past and is a key to preparing for the NCAA Championships.

Q: What goals do you set as a team before each season? Do they change from year to year?

A: This is a tough question because we have so many developmental goals that we focus on each day that are vital to the success of the overall program, and I do not want to discount the importance of those goals. However, the ultimate team goal has not changed- win the NCAA Team Championship. The NCAA is the measuring stick of excellence in college athletics, and for this program, to want anything less is foolish.

Q: What can we expect from this year's team?

A: This year's team is as good as any in the country. We have many of the elements of a championship team: depth, experience, talent, and motivation. Right now Stanford is on the mountain top in women's tennis, and they deserve a lot of respect; but, I truly believe that if we continue to make strides, we will be the best team in the nation in May.

Q: What does this veteran team have to do to win a team title?

A: It is so important that we continue to focus on player development. Our athletes have really bought in our developmental system and are paying the price daily to close the gap between us and a team like Stanford.

Q: What can we expect from Zuzana Zemenova after winning the singles title?

A: It is exciting to see how far ZZ and her teammates have come this past year. ZZ has gained a lot of confidence from winning the National title last spring, and she is primed to help the team win a championship this spring. It is promising to know that when ZZ joined the program last fall, our goal was to help develop her into a top-notch college player with the hopes of making it on the tour one day. Now our goal is to help her become a player that can have a significant tennis career on the WTA tour. She has definitely come a long way in a short time. The key for ZZ and her teammates this season is to continue to build on the improvements they made last year and develop their strengths into weapons.

You can expect to see an improved and more confident Baylor women's tennis team on the court this year with ZZ leading the pack!

Sic `em Bears!

Joey Scrivano

Baylor Tennis