Miseviciute, team look for improved season
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 10/15/08 Section: Sports
After a program-changing year for the No. 14 Razorback women's tennis team, expectations have changed.
The squad last year clinched the first Southeastern Conference Western Division title in program history and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
But as the team enters play Wednesday at the ITA Central Region Championships in Salt Lake City, senior Aurelija Miseviciute said some things have changed while others have not.
Miseviciute was ranked No. 119 in the nation last year entering the season, but she rose to the No. 1 singles player in college tennis, a position she currently holds.
But although she and the team are in different situations, the drive to be better hasn't changed.
"I'm in a different position than I was last year," Miseviciute said. "But us being here in Arkansas, we work hard and focus on improving everyday. Whether it is practice or a tournament or if you are ranked or unranked, you just like to do your best and improve. That hard work paid off last year and everything fell into place, because we were working hard for it."
Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty said he has high hopes for the team at this event based on the history at the tournament.
"[The results] have been extremely good recently," Hegarty said. "We struggled at the tournament my first year or two, but we have progressively done better each year. And the last couple of years we have done especially well."
With 35 schools in the field, Arkansas will look for its third straight title at the event.
And Miseviciute will look to lead the team, as she has made a major impact on the program, Hegarty said.
"She has meant as much as any player I've coached to a team," Hegarty said. "And not just victories on the court, but leadership off the court and with the example she sets as an athlete, a student and as a person. She is a high character kid. She expects a lot of herself and demands a lot of herself. I think other people take note of that, and it helps those around here. She means the world to our program."
The squad last year clinched the first Southeastern Conference Western Division title in program history and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
But as the team enters play Wednesday at the ITA Central Region Championships in Salt Lake City, senior Aurelija Miseviciute said some things have changed while others have not.
Miseviciute was ranked No. 119 in the nation last year entering the season, but she rose to the No. 1 singles player in college tennis, a position she currently holds.
But although she and the team are in different situations, the drive to be better hasn't changed.
"I'm in a different position than I was last year," Miseviciute said. "But us being here in Arkansas, we work hard and focus on improving everyday. Whether it is practice or a tournament or if you are ranked or unranked, you just like to do your best and improve. That hard work paid off last year and everything fell into place, because we were working hard for it."
Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty said he has high hopes for the team at this event based on the history at the tournament.
"[The results] have been extremely good recently," Hegarty said. "We struggled at the tournament my first year or two, but we have progressively done better each year. And the last couple of years we have done especially well."
With 35 schools in the field, Arkansas will look for its third straight title at the event.
And Miseviciute will look to lead the team, as she has made a major impact on the program, Hegarty said.
"She has meant as much as any player I've coached to a team," Hegarty said. "And not just victories on the court, but leadership off the court and with the example she sets as an athlete, a student and as a person. She is a high character kid. She expects a lot of herself and demands a lot of herself. I think other people take note of that, and it helps those around here. She means the world to our program."
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