Women's Tennis

UC Women are on the Rise
Influx of new talent strengthens Golden Eagles tennis
October 14, 2005

By Jay Srinivasan
For The Charleston Gazette

The University of Charleston women’s tennis team is flying high this year.

The Golden Eagles have had a memorable season so far, improving to 10-0 after Thursday’s 7-2 win against West Virginia Wesleyan at Watt Powell Annex.

"It was a good recruiting year," said UC coach Shari Reed. "[We] brought in a new player who took over the No. 1 position for us. By moving everybody down a spot, it allowed us to add a lot of depth to the middle of the lineup. That made a difference from top to bottom. Besides, we lost only one senior last year. So, we had a lot of experience coming back."

Briana Moyle, a freshman from Las Vegas, is the newcomer who has added a different dimension to this team. Moyle, ranked No. 583 in the USTA girls 18 singles, has seamlessly carried the No. 1 singles tag for her team, winning all her matches.

At the No. 2 spot is Danielle Warner, a junior psychology major from Hobe Sound, Fla., who has also yet to lose a match. Other players on the team are sophomore Krista Jacobs, senior Ashley Crank, junior Cherith Ragland and senior Amber Bouts. Ragland also has an unblemished record this year.

Reed said the stiff competition within the team prepared her players better for matches.

"Our No. 6 can play with our No. 1," said Reed. "That just makes the team stronger when you           Photo by Chip Ellis. Courtesy of The Charleston
have that kind of depth."                                                  Gazette.

Reed also believes the team chemistry is better than ever this season.

"Tennis is a truly individual sport," said Reed. "When they come to college, trying to make them into a team and have the same concepts has been difficult in some years. But this year has not been one of them. The upperclassmen have done a great job in keeping the team together, and motivating the underclassmen. I think that’s the difference."

"Our unity is a lot stronger this year," added Warner. "We got along better as a team than ever before. We’re more like a family, rather than individuals, which is really hard to do in tennis."

The Golden Eagles have set their sights on the West Virginia Conference championship, something that has eluded UC since 1993. Ragland likes her team’s chances.

"We’re going to win conference for three reasons," said Ragland. "I think we’ve worked harder than any team, we want it more than any other team and I think we’re better than any other team."