Women’s tennis: Anteaters ready to roll

Amara Aguilar

At least one thing is clear for the UC Irvine women’s tennis team

lineup.

Senior Jonni Seymour will definitely play No. 1 singles. The rest of

the singles lineup was still up in the air as of late last week, but

that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“Jonni is going to be our clear No. 1 player and No. 2 through No. 7,

they are all fairly close,” UCI Coach Mike Edles said. “What’s going to

end up happening is the older players will probably be stepping in and

playing our higher positions and the freshmen will be playing in the

five, six and seven spots. We haven’t solidified the lineup yet.”

Seymour went 16-6 in singles last year and has earned All-Big West

first-team honors in singles for three straight seasons.

“In terms of leadership and her skill level, she is invaluable to our

team,” Edles said. “She will lead our team in every way, by example and

just her spirit. She’s a great player. One of the best we’ve had since

I’ve been a coach here.”

Seymour is ranked 61st in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis

Association. She is also a threat in doubles.

Tentatively, Seymour will pair with sophomore Tiffany Chang at the No.

1 doubles spot. Chang is a transfer from the University of Kansas who was

9-5 in singles with the Jayhawks in 2000.

Seymour and Chang teamed to defeat the 12th-ranked doubles team in

America from LMU in the fall.

Freshmen Anna Bentzer and Hui Leow will probably be the No. 2 doubles

team and junior Amy Tranckino will most likely pair up with freshman

Kristina Boss at No. 3.

Tranckino went 6-17 in singles and posted the same record as a doubles

player during her sophomore year at UCI. She is a transfer from UC San

Diego. As a freshman, she led UCSD to the NCAA Division III Championship

Finals and was named All-American in singles and doubles. Tranckino also

earned the NCAA National Rookie of The Year Award.

“I think we have a lot of depth this year,” Tranckino said. “I think

the main thing is we’re really close this year and that’s going to help

us a lot. We definitely lost some strength at the top from last year, but

I think we filled it in.”

The Anteaters lost three seniors to graduation last season, but have

an infusion of freshmen, four to be exact. Seymour is the only senior on

the team.

“I just hope to be a good example for them,” Seymour said. “They are

experienced because they’ve played tournaments, so I think they’ll be

able to contribute a lot to the team. Everybody who is playing is really

close to each other so they are all going to be fighting for positions,

which is good to keep people working hard.”

Edles predicts the Anteaters will be at least one of the top three

teams in the Big West Conference. Last year the Anteaters went 7-17

overall and were 4-2 in conference.

Boise State defeated Long Beach State in the final of the Big West

Tournament last year.

“It’s great to get some new blood in and the enthusiasm that the

freshmen bring,” Edles said. “I feel we are legitimately one of the top

three teams in the Big West. Long Beach State, you have to consider them.

Idaho is looking good this year and Pacific is always strong. We should

definitely be in the hunt and the winner gains a bid to the NCAA

playoffs, so that’s our goal.”

UCI opens the season with a nonconference road match against

seventh-ranked USC (1-0) Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

UC Irvine women’s tennis roster

Anna Bentzer, Fr.

Kristina Boss, Fr.

Tiffany Chang, So.

Hui Leow, Fr.

Christie Posner, So.

Jonni Seymour, Sr.

Amy Tranckino, Jr.

Nishi Wyrembak, Fr.