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Miami women’s tennis continues control of MAC

Despite coaching changes of last 10 months, RedHawks keep on winning.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 1:25 AM Thursday, April 29, 2010

OXFORD — The casual viewer might consider tennis a sport of individual athletes, a sport where coordinated teamwork is needed in doubles competition but nowhere else.

That’s not the case at Miami University.

In fact, the RedHawks, whose ranks represent four countries and three continents, have taken the concept of team and honed it to a fine, fighting edge.

Miami clinched its second straight Mid-American Conference regular-season title and second straight 8-0 record in league play last weekend.

This weekend, the RedHawks will put their streak of 17 straight wins in conference matches on the line as they seek a second straight MAC tournament championship and second straight NCAA berth.

But this has not been a smooth ride for the RedHawks, who are guided by Ricardo “Ricky” Rosas, the team’s third head coach in the last 10 months. The only way they have prospered, even survived, is by sticking together. As a team.

“I feel extremely happy and proud of them, and I have a lot of confidence in them,” Rosas said. “They have come together as a team through the adversity we’ve all faced.”

It all happened so quickly.

Last July, coach Howard Joffe resigned to take over at Maryland. In August, Dave Emery was named Miami’s new coach. In November, Emery resigned and Rosas was named interim head coach.

“That was very difficult for them, but when those situations come, we always have the option to turn it into a good opportunity, and they understand that,” Rosas said.

Rosas was one of Mexico’s top junior players before coming to Miami, where he was an assistant coach for six years.

“Being here for a few years and getting to know them, not only as a student and tennis player, but also as a person, that allows us to work together and we understand each other, how we do things and what is expected of them,” he said. “We walk in the same direction.”

Miami has a talented lineup that includes junior Megan Martzolf of Indianapolis who is undefeated (21-0) at No. 3 singles.

There are no weak links in this lineup.

Junior Anastasia Dracheva, of Moscow, Russia, is 14-5 at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Stephanie Danesis, of Akron, is 10-9 at No. 2. Sophomore Riekie Honiball of Windhook, Namibia, is 11-7 at No. 4. Junior Cara Wald of Oakwood is 10-3 at No. 5. Junior Sydnee Bridger of Upper Arlington is 6-6 at No. 6.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.