Ochs successful in first season
Joe Bell
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Sports
A 24-match win streak, a singles record of 24-1 and a doubles record of 20-5 isn't a bad season for any tennis player, but it's an even better one considering Amy Ochs is a freshman.
"I have loved [my first season of college tennis]," Ochs said. "The team has been absolutely amazing - I couldn't ask for a better team. I think playing with such great players on the team has really improved my game. Before, I haven't really been surrounded by so many great tennis players."
Head coach Pete Kendall had nothing but praise for Ochs.
"I don't know how [her freshman season] could have been any better," Kendall said. "She's now tied for the best record on the team, with [junior] Lindsy [Blair]. She also had a very good doubles year with [senior Jennifer] Salmon."
Ochs' rookie season helped push the women to their first 20-win season ever. Ochs dominated playing in the No. 5 singles hole. After overcoming a sprained ankle that kept her out of the first two matches of the 2007-08 season, Ochs went on to win 24 straight matches between the fall and spring seasons. Only twice during the course of the year did Ochs split sets with an opponent before winning the tie-breaker, and in only five matches did she allow an opponent to win more than four games against her.
So far Kendall has resisted the urge to move Ochs up in the lineup from the No. 5 singles.
"We left her [in the No. 5 spot], and no one else in the conference seemed to have a problem with it," Kendall said. "Nobody challenged that. We thought they might challenge that because they could have. Once things got going, though, we just decided to leave things the way it was."
In doubles, she had been equally impressive. After playing only two matches in the No. 3 slot, she was moved up to the No. 2 position to play with Salmon for the rest of the season. Ochs and her doubles partners began the fall season with a seven-match win streak, and Ochs and Salmon put up four- and five-match win streaks later in the season. Ochs ended the regular season with a doubles record of 20-5.
"I have loved [my first season of college tennis]," Ochs said. "The team has been absolutely amazing - I couldn't ask for a better team. I think playing with such great players on the team has really improved my game. Before, I haven't really been surrounded by so many great tennis players."
Head coach Pete Kendall had nothing but praise for Ochs.
"I don't know how [her freshman season] could have been any better," Kendall said. "She's now tied for the best record on the team, with [junior] Lindsy [Blair]. She also had a very good doubles year with [senior Jennifer] Salmon."
Ochs' rookie season helped push the women to their first 20-win season ever. Ochs dominated playing in the No. 5 singles hole. After overcoming a sprained ankle that kept her out of the first two matches of the 2007-08 season, Ochs went on to win 24 straight matches between the fall and spring seasons. Only twice during the course of the year did Ochs split sets with an opponent before winning the tie-breaker, and in only five matches did she allow an opponent to win more than four games against her.
So far Kendall has resisted the urge to move Ochs up in the lineup from the No. 5 singles.
"We left her [in the No. 5 spot], and no one else in the conference seemed to have a problem with it," Kendall said. "Nobody challenged that. We thought they might challenge that because they could have. Once things got going, though, we just decided to leave things the way it was."
In doubles, she had been equally impressive. After playing only two matches in the No. 3 slot, she was moved up to the No. 2 position to play with Salmon for the rest of the season. Ochs and her doubles partners began the fall season with a seven-match win streak, and Ochs and Salmon put up four- and five-match win streaks later in the season. Ochs ended the regular season with a doubles record of 20-5.
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