The top research institution in the commonwealth, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a comprehensive university of national and international One of America’s classic college towns, Blacksburg is a perfect setting for prominence. Virginia’s premiere land-grant Virginia Tech. university, Virginia Tech has grown from a Located in Southwest Virginia on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and small college of 132 students into the largest Alleghany Mountains, Blacksburg combines the laid-back lifestyle of a small institution of higher education in the state town with the amenities one would expect to find around a major center of during its 131-year history. higher education. Together, the town and university have worked hard to create a progressive community that ranks among the nation’s elite living Recognizing that higher education is a key force behind the quality of American environments. Blacksburg was life, economic competitiveness, and our democratic form of government, President recently named one of the Top 10 Charles W. Steger has challenged the university to become one of the country’s top places to live by Outside 30 research institutions by the end of the decade. magazine. Virginia Tech was established in 1872 as an all-male military school dedicated to Virginia Tech and the Town of the original land-grant mission of teaching agriculture and engineering. Today, the Blacksburg gained national and co-educational institution, which operates a European studies center based in international attention by creating Switzerland and educational, research and outreach/Extension facilities throughout the world’s first “electronic Virginia, has recognized programs in music, business, architecture and the village.” Businesses and humanities, as well as its traditional strengths in the sciences, engineering industries have been drawn by and technology. the quaint town’s potential. Virginia Tech is organized into eight colleges – Agriculture and Life Established in 1798 by John Sciences, Architecture and Urban Studies, Science, Pamplin College of and William Black, the town is Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Natural surrounded by scenic mountain Resources, and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. views that accentuate the area. Together, the colleges offer about 175 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral The nearly 40,000 residents degree programs to approximately 28,000 students, who hail from countries (including students) enjoy a close throughout the world. proximity to a variety of Virginia Tech follows the dictates of its recreation areas such as the motto, Ut Prosim (“That I May Serve”), Blue Ridge Parkway, focusing on its land-grant missions of Appalachian Trail, Claytor Lake instruction, research, and solving the and the New River. problems of society through outreach and Extension activities. Through the generation of new knowledge and the outreach mandate, the university disseminates practical knowledge through the classroom and to society as a whole. It is a university that puts knowledge to work. Visit Virginia Tech on the Internet at www.vt.edu The 2003-2004 Hokies: (front, l to r) Kristen Mell, Table of Contents Media Guide Credits Ginger Lowdermilk, Carolyn Kramer, Elissa Kinard, The 2003-2004 Virginia Tech Carolina Rodriguez, Felice Lam, (back, l to r) 2003-2004 Roster ........................................... 2 women’s tennis media guide is a Coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods, Assistant 2003-2004 Outlook, Schedule .................... 2, 3 publication of the Tech Sports Kristen Stubbs, Ashley James, Meredith Holmes, Head Coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods ......... 4 Anat Elazari, Lea Ackenbom and Catherine Slagel. Information Office, designed to aid Coaching Staff................................................. 5 media members in their coverage of Administration & Support Staff ........................ 5 Hokie tennis. The guide was written by Virginia Tech Quick Facts Player Profiles ............................................ 6-10 Torye Hurst of the Virginia Tech Sports Location: Blacksburg, Va. 2002-2003 Review, Results ........................... 11 Information Office. Design and Enrollment: 28,000 2002-2003 Statistics ..................................... 12 composition by Assistant SID David Colors: Chicago maroon & burnt orange Record Book ................................................. 13 Knachel. Photos contributed by Nickname: Hokies Knachel. Printing was by Southern Hokie Tennis History ..................................... 14 Conference: BIG EAST Printing Co., of Blacksburg, Va. All-Time Series Results ................................. 14 Facility: Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center Special thanks to head coach Terry Support Services ........................................... 15 President: Dr. Charles Steger Ann Zawacki-Woods and her staff for Director of Athletics: Jim Weaver Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center .................. 16 their assistance with this publication. Women’s Tennis Information Sports Information Directory Head Coach: Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods (Wake Forest ‘96) Sports Information Director: Dave Smith Career Record: 25-41 Associate SID: Anne Panella Virginia Tech Record: First year Assistant Directors: David Knachel, Bryan Johnson, Bill Dyer Assistant Coach: Kristen Stubbs (Virginia Tech ‘03) Assistant Director (Tennis Contact): Torye Hurst Office Phone: (540) 231-9971 Sports Information Phone: (540) 231-6726 Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center: (540) 231-5908 Sports Information Fax: (540) 231-6984 Tennis Fax: (540) 231-2002 Hurst’s Office Phone: (540) 231-8823 2002-03 Dual Meet Record: 16-13 Hurst’s Cell Phone: (540) 320-998-5907 2001-02 BIG EAST Conference Tournament: 3rd Hurst’s e-mail: [email protected] Returning/Lost: 7/2 Hurst’s Home Phone: (540) 382-6505 Final 2002-03 National Ranking: 69 Tennis on the Internet: 2004 Preseason National Ranking: 67 Newcomers: 3 www.hokiesports.com/wtennis 2003-2004 VIRGINIA TECH WOMEN’S TENNIS 1 “Ginger is our team captain and a tremendous leader,” said Zawacki-Woods. “She is a fighter on the court from the baseline, and we are working with her game to where she can change the direction and pace of her shots a little more. Ginger is a very positive person and helps with our depth on the team.” New Coach Has Carolina Rodriguez saw limited action last season after transferring to Tech in January High Expectations from Hillsborough (Fla.) Community College where she was ranked No. 15 nationally in singles and No. 3 in doubles. Rodriguez took For the Hokies third place in her flight at this fall’s Deacon New head coach Terry Ann Zawacki- Classic hosted by Wake Forest University. Woods and a strong returning cast have “Carolina is a hard worker who is always high expectations for the 2003-04 edition of looking for ways to improve,” said Zawacki- the Virginia Tech women’s tennis team. The Woods. “She fights her way through to the Hokies return four players who saw end of every match regardless of the score considerable action last season in leading which sets a great example for the rest of the the team to a tie for third-place in the BIG Ginger team.” EAST tournament and have several Lowdermilk Felice Lam had an outstanding newcomers who will figure prominently into sophomore season coming off of knee the lineup this year. surgery which cut her freshman season Tech finished the season at 16-13-1 and short. Lam was 17-9 in singles and 20-8 in was ranked No. 69 in the final national poll. doubles last season and teamed with Elissa The record is more impressive given that the Kinard to advance to the ITA Eastern Hokies faced 15 nationally-ranked Tech will have to replace three-time Regional doubles final in the fall. opponents and five teams that finished in captain Kristen Stubbs, now the Hokies’ “Felice is a tough competitor who can the Top 25. The returnees gained valuable assistant coach, who completed her career frustrate her opponents,” said Zawacki- experience facing some of the nation’s best with 79 singles and 81 doubles victories at Woods. “She has an excellent net game, has and defeated five ranked opponents with the top of the lineup along with Zdenka great hands, and she had a great fall. I narrow losses to three other top programs. Videnova, who led the team with a 31-9 expect her success to continue in the spring.” “I have high expectations for the singles record. Kinard played only doubles in the fall due program this year,” said Zawacki-Woods. Ginger Lowdermilk enters her senior to injury following a spring season that saw “We have been working hard to continue to season after recording 22 doubles and 14 her post 26 singles victories. For her efforts, develop the tremendous talent that we have singles victories last year. She also was she was selected as the team’s Rookie of the on this team. I got to know the players pretty selected as an ITA Scholar Athlete after Year. In addition to the ITA regional success, well during the fall season but I know it will posting a 4.0 GPA. Lowdermilk was a 2001 Kinard teamed with Lam to win their flight at still be a learning process in the spring for Junior College All-American and ranked No. 1 the Virginia Tech Fall Invitational. me to see how they react to some of the in both singles “Elissa is a very strong, dual-match situations.” and doubles. powerful left-hander who can dominate many of her opponents,” said Zawacki- THE HOKIES’ ROSTER Woods. “She has had trouble in the past with injuries which Name Yr. Ht. R/L Hometown we hope to avoid this spring. Lea Ackenbom Fr. 5-3 RH Charlottesville, Va. She has shown great Anat Elazari So. 5-6 RH Tiberias, Israel determination this fall in Meredith Holmes So. 5-9 RH Bloomington, Ind. doubles, and I’m looking Ashley James Fr. 5-5 RH Williamsburg, Va. forward to her getting past Elissa Kinard Jr. 5-10 LH Charleston, S.C. these injuries so we can really Carolyn Kramer Jr. 5-7 RH Manchester, Mo. see what she is capable of in Felice Lam Jr. 5-5 RH Seattle, Wash. singles and doubles.” Ginger Lowdermilk Sr.