Long Beach State University Athletics
Bouffler, 49ers Ready for Playoffs
4/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Bouffler, 49ers Ready for Playoffs The Long Beach State women's tennis team and their captain Nicole Bouffler are looking forward to the 2005 Big West Conference Tournament and for good reason. The 49ers dropped a couple of very close matches to conference opponents this season UC Santa Barbara and Pacific and they would love nothing more than to return the favor at the Big West Conference Championships, which began Thursday and conclude Sunday in Indian Wells. "I'm excited about this weekend," Bouffler said. "I think it's going to be a good weekend. The teams that are seeded above us (No.1 Pacific and No.2 UC Santa Barbara), we lost 4-3 to both of them. It came down to the final match both times. I definitely think we can come back against those teams and reverse the score." Since arriving at LBSU two years ago, Bouffler has been an impact player. She helped the 49ers win the 2004 BWC championship playing at the No.1 spot in singles and doubles. Not even a wrist injury suffered early last season, her first as a 49er, prevented her from becoming a dominant player. Despite the injury, Bouffler didn't miss a single match, finishing the 2004 season 26-11 in singles competition including an impressive 6-3, 6-3 win over No.7-ranked Daria Panova of Oregon. She was named first team All-Big West Conference in singles and doubles and finished the season ranked No.88 nationally. "Nicole is very good," said coach Jenny Hilt-Costello, now in her eighth-year at the helm of the 49er women's tennis team. "She definitely has an all-around game. She can change up her game. She can play aggressive and come to the net. She can back off if she needs to and can play a loopy game if need be. She is very versatile." Bouffler is not only a fine singles player, but also a capable doubles partner. Bouffler and Sandra Rocha have combined to form one of the most formidable doubles teams in the conference. The duo went 20-7 in doubles competition in 2004, making first team All-Big West Conference in doubles. "Sandra is the fire on the team and Nicole is more the grounded one," said Hilt-Costello. "Together they compliment each other very well. They have a really good ability to make points happen. A shot that doesn't seem an obvious approach or put away, they can make it into a put away." This season Bouffler and Rocha have combined to go 15-8 at the No.1 spot in doubles action. "We click well together," Bouffler said. "We've been playing together for a while now so we know each other's game inside and out." In singles play the Australia native didn't do as well as she would have wanted, ending her senior year 14-8 in the spring and 16-10 overall at the No.1 singles position. Of those eight losses, however, six came against nationally ranked opponents. "A lot of those matches that I lost to ranked opponents were played indoors and I'm not used to playing indoors," said Bouffler. "That didn't help me too much. I didn't adjust too well when we went indoors that was tough." It also didn't help having to play one of the 49ers' toughest schedules, facing 12 ranked opponents, and going up against eight ranked players, against whom she went 2-6. But playing against tougher opposition was a major reason she left the University of Texas-San Antonio after her sophomore season when she felt she wasn't being tested enough on the court. "We didn't have a strong schedule (at Texas-SA) and I was playing at the No.3 spot against teams that had absolutely no depth. It was boring. The girls I played against weren't strong players. It wasn't challenging me," said Bouffler, who compiled a 52-11 record in singles play in her two years in Texas. At LBSU Bouffler has found her share of challenges, something she has enjoyed because it has made her a better player. "It has been a great experience the past two years being a part of this team," said Bouffler, who plans to continue playing tennis at the professional level. "The girls are all great and we get along really well. It's been a fun two years. I've learned a lot since I've been here. It definitely has helped my game a lot." Now a much improved Bouffler and the rest of the defending BWC champions plan on capturing their second consecutive Big West championship and third in four years. They play against No.6 seed Cal State Northridge in today's quarterfinal match. "I don't think there is any reason why we can't win this weekend," said Bouffler. "If we all go out and play to the best of our abilities and play our own game I have no doubt that we will come away with the win." |
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