Double Duck: UO pair readies for NCAAs
Dana Panova is Onegons star,
but she’ll lean on doubles
partner Courtney Nagle in
Gainesville, Fla., this week
Women’s tennis
Ryan Heath
Freelance Sports Reporter
One girl has blonde hair and the
other is a redhead. One learned ten
nis overseas and the other honed her
skills in California. One girl is a top re
cruit who wanted to play tennis and
get an education in America. The oth
er is a walk-on who later scrapped her
way to a scholarship spot.
So what could Ducks Daria Pano
va and Courtney Nagle possibly
have in common? Plenty.
For one, they have the same travel
plans this week. Nagle and Panova
head to Gainesville, Fla., today to take
on the best doubles teams in the na
tion at the NCAA Championships.
Ranked No. 33 nationally, Nagle
and Panova hope to improve on a
season that has already earned
them accolades in doubles play as
well as some individual honors.
“It really is up to them,” head
coach Nils Schyllander said. “When
they play the way they want, no one
is better.”
The Duck tandem has already
beaten three top-15 opponents
this year as well as set records for
singles victories. Panova, or
“Dasza” to friends and teammates,
has taken both the Pacific-10 Con
ference Indoor and Outdoor
Championships as well as being
named the Pac-10 Player of the
Year. All this while setting the Ore
gon record for the most singles
wins in a season at 30, nine more
than the previous high.
“Practicing with someone that
good brings up my level,” Nagle said
of Panova. “Playing with Dasza has
really helped me.”
Nagle posted a 17-15 record in
singles play this year, including a 5
5 record against ranked opponents.
Unfortunately, it can’t just be
breaking records and giving compli
ments all the time with two compet
itive women’s tennis players.
“We’re really similar,” Nagle said.
“And when two people are alike,
they tend to clash.”
In a match against UCLA earlier
in the year, both women were bat
tling injuries and were visibly frus
trated with their play. They got past
the early lapse and went on to take
the match 8-4.
“We have moments where we
don’t see eye to eye,” Nagle said.
“But I wouldn’t want to play with
anyone else.”
It wasn’t always that way. Despite
their similarities, Nagle and Panova
weren’t always good friends.
“I’m kind of shy,” Nagle said. “It
took a while for us to open up. After
about three months we got used
each other.”
Schyllander knew the girls would
be perfect doubles partners almost
from the beginning, but he based his
decision on their differences more
than their similarities.
“Their styles match well,” Schyl
lander said. “Courtney was more of
a raw talent out of high school and
Dasza had a lot of experience.”
Both Nagle and Panova begin sin
gles play on Monday before team
ing up for the doubles portion on
Tuesday. The tandem gives the
Ducks one of the best chances at a
national championship in tennis in
recent memory.
Not bad teamwork for two girls
that should be so different.
Ryan Heath is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.
Adam Amato Emerald
Daria Panova (left) and Courtney Nagle will challenge the NCAA's best this week.
Men's
continued from page 9
13.73. That time was .02 seconds faster than his preliminary time, which
moved him into second all-time at Oregon behind Micah Harris’ 13.67.
“I ran my race, and I felt pretty good,” Mitchum said.
In other sprints action Sunday, Sarnie Parker finished third in the
100, Jordan Kent placed in both the 100 (sixth) and 200 (fifth), and
Terry Ellis finished fifth in the 110 hurdles.
The Ducks will next head to the NCAA Regional meet May 30 in
Palo Alto, Calif.
Contact the sports editor at peterhockaday@dailyemerald.com.
Softball
continued from page 9
answered with three runs in the bot
tom of the inning. The two teams
scored back and forth through the
end of the seventh inning, when the
game was tied at six.
Four hours and 15 minutes — and
12 innings — after it started, Vidlund
hit a single to drive in Hutchison for
the 7-b win. Vidlund, who came in to
close me game in the fifth, pitched 7
1/3 innings to earn the decision.
Championship Sunday featured the
one-loss Ducks and no-loss Ragin’ Ca
juns. Oregon dominated Louisiana
Lafayette in the first game, 9-2, to
send the championship into a second
game in the double-elimination tour
nament. Vidlund led the Ducks with
two home runs in the 9-2 rout.
The Ragin’ Cajuns took advantage
of Harris in the first inning of the
second game as she gave up two runs
and left two runners on base with
one out. Vidlund relieved Harris and
gave up a home run. The Ducks an
swered with two runs in the second
and made a late run with a Haij
home run in the seventh, but could
n’t come back for the 6-4 loss.
“Our seniors gave us a tremendous
experience and 1 couldn't be more
proud of this ballclub,” Arendsen said.
“We really had a great year.”
Contact the sports reporter
at mindirice@dailyemerald.com.
Join the Peer Health Ed. Program at the UO Health Center
Learn about college health issues
sexual health and contraception
food and nutrition
tobacco and other drugs
exercise and dealing with stress
Work with staff and students
in the Health Center
internship program 1' • * I
Resume builder
8 upper division credits
spring and fall terms
■h
Build skills
organize talks
lead discussions
ibiish health articles .
reate innovative projects
MM A-, * V,
r *mm '' f W US v
■' f..m
Call 346-0562 for more information or
ghec& out http^/liea|feecUuoregon.edu
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
.
Health Center • 1
■ i n
MW
w * *
pwr " " ai
H IW
r Ip * 1
l *l4
■ i - |: V
n|L 1
t- mmfr- Wk ' W