University of Houston Athletics
Jennifer Hyde Chat Wrap
1/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Jan. 9, 2002
Jennifer Hyde: thanks everyone for your interest in cougar tennis. i hope i can answer all of your questions today.
Larry Cuccinello,Houston: Coach,good luck in the 2002 season.the university sports information director should promote your team more, times of matches,scores,ect.in the Houston Chronicle .on your recruits,why does the U of H sign a majority of foreign players? when we have a great amount of players from the Texas,and the rest of the USA
Sara (Houston): Who will be playing doubles with Sarah Borwell this year? Do they look competitive?
Jennifer Hyde: I'm not certain who Sarah will be playing double with yet. There are a few combinations that could work, but I'll better know after we begin practice next week and check out the possibilities. George (Crossville): How do you think this team will do in comparison to last year?
Jennifer Hyde: This season, we will be redshirting two of our players. Karine had elbow surgery in December and will return next fall. Sarah Flood is recovering from a car accident and won't be competing for us until next fall. With those two out of our lineup, we are missing some depth we had planned on. However, I know that all the players are more than capable of stepping up to the challenge and raising their level of play. renee: do you have a younger team this year, or are you graduating alot of seniors?
Jennifer Hyde: I am graduating three seniors at the end of the season. I'll lose Sarah Borwell, Joanne Keene, and Kailey Meisinger. They are a huge part of this team, and we are working very hard to find student athletes to fill their shoes. Its a big recruiting year for us, and we already have three committments for next fall. john (pearland): Coach Hyde, do you think that Sarah Borwell can win the NCAA's this year? Has anyone from Univ. of Houston done that in tennis before?
Jennifer Hyde: To my knowledge, there has never been a tennis NCAA champion from the Univ. of Houston. Sarah can definitely be the first. She's very talented, and has proven herself to be among one of the best players in the nation. There's no limit to what she can accomplish this season. I definitely think she's capable of winning a National Championship. Jennifer, (houston): How much of a factor do you think that Jennifer Baccarani will be to your team this spring? HOw do you feel that she has recovered from her surgery after she tore her ACL?
Jennifer Hyde: Jennifer is a very talented player with unrealized potential. She hasn't played her best tennis yet, and we're ready for her to be a consistent impact player for us. The injury to her knee is fully recovered and she is 100%. That injury will not inhibit her from competing, playing or practicing in any way. She's ready to go. Jennifer (houston): Where do you feel the new recruit will be playing in the lineup?
Jennifer Hyde: I'm not able to say exactly where the new players will fit in. I feel very confident that one of them will play in the top two or three spots in the lineup. jeff j. (houston): Hi coach. Congrats on Sarah's ranking. Is this her final year of competition?
Jennifer Hyde: Yes, unfortunately, this is sarah's final year. I wish i had her for another two or three seasons, but she will be graduating in may and trying to make it on the pro tour. bev (bryan: Do you find the talent of international recruits is better than that of american junior players?
Jennifer Hyde: I think there are many talented players all over place. Recently, there has been a decline in the talent level in the states. However, there are a number of sleepers out there that started late and haven't even begun to show there potential. I was a sleeper myself in high school, so I can appreciate a player who has interests in other sports and activities, someone who hasn't totally committed themselves to one sport. However in the event that we can't find solid talent, or lose recruits to other universities, I look abroad for players to fill the gaps from graduating players. ellen: coach---good luck to you and your team in 2002! what is the most important quality you look for in a player besides the athletic ability?
Jennifer Hyde: hi ellen and thanks for your question. i always look for kid who is well rounded, someone who is a self motivator, who has passion for the game of tennis. Its also important to me to recruit student-athletes who hold academics as a high priority in their lives. Getting their diploma is something that no one can ever take from them, and having that as their man goal is imperative.
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