They say there’s no place like home, and the ASU women’s tennis team is about to find out.
After playing their only three fall tournaments on the road, the Sun Devils host their first home tournament of the season Friday through Sunday at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
The 16th Annual Arizona State Thunderbird Invitational offers the Sun Devils an opportunity to play teams they don’t usually meet in the regular season. Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, San Diego and California will all make their way to Tempe for the tournament.
“We get to see a lot of teams we don’t normally see,” ASU coach Sheila McInerney said. “I think it’s a great tournament.”
The competition will be tough, as last year’s champion defends her title as a senior. Michigan’s Denise Moresan defeated ASU senior Kelcy McKenna in the finals last year, when McKenna was a junior.
In last year’s finals, McKenna was down 3-0 in her first set and fought back to win it 7-5, but lost the last two sets 2-6, 2-6.
The 2008 Thunderbird champion will not compete at the tournament this year. Cal junior Jana Juricova won the 2008 Thunderbird Invitational, but won’t be trying to win a second time, as she is instead competing at the USTA/ITA National Collegiate Indoor Championships in Flushing, N.Y.
“It’s a deep field,” McInerney said. “Every match will be very competitive. It’s good to play against teams you don’t usually see.”
Along with the dynamic field, the Sun Devils are pumped about finally getting to play at home.
“I’m really excited,” senior Ashlee Brown said. “We haven’t had someone on our team win our home tournament in quite a while, and I feel like we can definitely do that this year.”
To prepare for the upcoming tournament the Sun Devils have been focusing on doubles play.
“We’re getting better,” McInerney said. “Hopefully it will show this weekend.”
One prominent Sun Devil contributor may be limited in the tournament, as junior Michelle Brycki has been suffering from a sore shoulder. Brycki has been icing it after practice each day to make sure she’s ready to play for the tournament.
“I’m trying to take it easy the next few days so I can play in the tournament,” Brycki said. “I’ll need to rest it after.”
The tournament will kick off with doubles play at 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Doubles play will also start the days on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There is not a doubles bracket, as matches will be assigned daily.
Singles matches will follow the doubles matches each day and the bracket features a field of 32 players.
First-round play kicks off on Friday, and the tournament finals take place on Sunday.
There will also be a consolation round with quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday, and the consolation finals on Sunday.
McInerney expects the Sun Devils to play well this weekend because they’re familiar with the courts and they’ll be well rested from not having to travel.
“We play well at home,” McInerney said.
Most recently, the Sun Devils played in the ITA Southwest Regional Championships. Freshman Jacqueline Cako made it to the quarterfinals where she fell to USC senior Maria Sanchez.
The Sun Devils will get an extended break from competition after the Thunderbird, as the tournament concludes the fall season. They will return to competitive play just before classes resume after winter break.
Reach the reporter at nklauss@asu.edu
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