80ā€™s & Top 40 DJ SMOOV & BIG B 21 West 6th 338-9000 UO tennis teams enter ā€˜03 season with confidence After rough finishes in 2002 for both teams, Oregon tennis returns with ranked veterans for the 2003 season By Alex Tam Freelance Reporter Optimism can describe the upcom ing season for the Oregon men's and women's tennis teams. Both squads endured difficult sea sons last year with injuries ~~ _ and grueling schedules that T|jā€|^jN|5 left them at the bottom of the Pacific-10 Conference standings. However, many key players are re turning with more experience and de termination to greatly improve on last year's results. For the women, who finished 10 15 overall in 2002, with a 2-6 confer ence record, second-year head coach Nils Schyllander is confident about what's to come. "We're looking forward to this year," Schyllander said. "We broke through a lot of barriers (in 2002). Unfortunately, we had some un timely injuries, but I think the future is bright." The Ducks return with junior Daria Panova, the reigning Pac-10 Women's Tennis Player of the Year who won both the indoor and out door championships last year. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association re cently ranked Panova No. 7 in the country in singles play. "She is a world-class player," Schyl lander said. "She pretty much did everything you could do in one year." The women's team is also anticipat ing the comeback of senior Davina Mendiburu, who missed last season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear. The team expects her to be close to 100 percent by January. "Before her injury, Davina was one of our best singles and doubles play ers," Schyllander said. "To get her back will be extremely important for the team's success." Senior Courtney Nagle, named an All-American in doubles last season, will also return to provide veteran leadership. The ITA ranked Nagle No. 35 in the nation. On the men's side, the team re mains confident in the upcoming season despite losing senior Oded Teig, the Ducks' career singles victo ries leader. "We're positive," Oregon head coach Chris Russell said. "We have a good nucleus of guys coming back this year." Oregon welcomes back senior Manuel Kost, a member of the All Pac-10 Second Team, after finishing 8-12 overall and winless in confer ence play. Kost appeared in the NCAA tourna ment but went out in the first round, despite recently receiving the highest ITA ranking of his career at No. 31. Turn to TENNIS, page8E Q 2003 Oregon Football oREcon Student Ticket Release Dates Students enrolled for Fall 2003 classes AND paying student incidental fees can pick up one ticket for each game at the ticket offices located in the EMU or at the Len Casanova Center.* Student tickets are funded by the ADFC through student incidental fees. 6,100 tickets will be available for the remaining games. Any remaining student tickets will become available to students for purchase for their friends and family on Wednesday during the week of the home football game. *On first day of distribution for each game, tickets will be distributed from the South Ticket building at Autzen Stadium instead of the Casanova Center. Game Date September 27, 2003 October 25, 2003 November 8, 2003 November 22, 2003 Opponent Washington State Stanford California Oregon State Release Date Monday, September 15 Monday, October 13 Monday, October 27 Tuesday, November 11 A For more information, students should contact the Duck Ticket Office at (541) 346-4461 or the ASUO at (541) 346-3724. YOUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT Get Involved! 346-3724