Colorado State University Athletics
Season review:Rams experience a year of surprises
9/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 22, 2011
By Amanda Bader
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - In a year that drew record home attendance, the Colorado State women's tennis team concluded its regular season and Mountain West championships, finishing conference play with a 9-14 record (0-8 MW). Before falling in the second round of the MW championships, the Rams gained their first conference victory in a grueling matchagainst New Mexico.
Last season the Rams faced superior opponents, competing in five states and against seven nationally ranked teams. Colorado State also opened the doors of a brand-new $2 million facility. During its inaugural season, Colorado State's University Tennis Complex hosted the CSU invitational, the 2011 Mountain West men's and women's championships and also five home home matches.
In addition to boasting a new facility, the Colorado State women's tennis team drew national attention with record attendance that averaged 116.5 people per match, ranking ninth in the nation. With such outstanding support from their fans, the Rams were able to notch victories in three of four home matches during the 2010-11 regular season.
Despite outstanding play at home, the Rams did not see the same success on the road, especially in conference play, where they went 0-8 during the regular season.
"We felt that we underachieved as a team last year," said Messick. "The effort and attitude was there. We just didn't come through with a full team effort when we needed it."
In hopes of leading the team, CSU returned five of last season's top players, including three seniors, Melissa Holzinger, Caitlin Fluegge and Kaitlin Wooldridge.
As captain, Fluegge concluded her fourth season with the Rams with a total of 81 wins in both singles and doubles. At the No. 1 singles position, Fluegge helped Colorado State clinch a 4-3 victory over Montana State in a third-set decision.
Despite sustaining injuries throughout the season, Holzinger compiled a 27-17 career singles record in her two-year stretch with the Rams. She also worked her way to ranking fourth in CSU records for all-time wins at No. 6 singles with 17. Last season, Holzinger was honored with MW Player of the Week for the week of March 23. Holzinger gained the recognition by extending a season-high four-match winning streak, helping the Rams defeat Cal State Fullerton (5-2) and Eastern Washington (7-0).
Coming off a debut season for the Rams, Wooldridge was able to compile wins in seven singles and doubles matches from a backup role. Lauren Pick also filled and contributed eight wins in both singles and doubles. Playing mainly in the No. 5 singles position, freshman Kaley Schultz earned 21 overall victories.
Leading the Rams in overall singles victories last season was junior Veronika Wojakowska. Wojakowska compiled 13 victories in doubles play and while playing the majority of the season at No. 4 singles position, gained 16 victories.
Finally, Tori Arneson finished out her season with 23 overall victories in singles and doubles, while Lauren Mulhern trailed just two wins behind with 21.
Although players did well at individual levels, it was a struggle for the team to come together as a whole, which ultimately forced the Rams into the eighth slot overall in the Mountain West. The struggle was not for lack of effort, as many of the matches throughout the season were extremely close, but a combination of both confidence and injury.
"There were some close losses early in the season, which affected our confidence going into our conference schedule," said Messick. "We were also hit with some injury and illness at critical parts of the spring season."
This season the Rams will return four players from the top of the lineup in addition to Lauren Pick, who was in a backup position all season. Colorado State will also be welcoming three new players to its roster in order to add additional depth and fresh experience.