Metroâs NCAA violation slows
womenâs tennis
By Jesse Stepheson
The Metropolitan
An incomplete roster is the Metro womenâs tennis teamâs most formidable opponent this spring.
The team of four players, one of whom is injured and unable to play, defaulted 19 matches since the beginning of the spring season.
Injuries have sidelined freshman Kelley Kessler, who was the No. 3 singles player, since mid-March. Her teammate, Natalie
Maes, also a freshman, failed to qualify for NCAA eligibility before participating in matches in March.
Maes had not been cleared to play by the NCAA Clearing House, said Brian Crookham, Metroâs Eligibility and Compliance Coordinator. All freshman must be cleared to play by the NCAA.
Metroâs Sports Information Director Mark Cicero said Metro reported the infraction to the NCAA and is waiting on any disciplinary actions.
Metro might be forced to forfeit any matches Maes participated in, Crookham said. The Roadrunners won only one of those matches.
ãItâs terrible, weâve had a number of (dual) matches where if we had a full team, we would have easily won,ä said coach Dan LeFevre. ãItâs simple, but that is our only weakness. They tend to win a lot of the matches they play.ä
The women on the team have won 33 of 61 matches theyâve played, winning half of the 8 dual matches so far this season.
Normally, a tennis team has at least six players to fill the singles spots. Those players then pair up to play doubles matches.
The women punished the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs with two 6-3 victories March 13 and 29.
Two of the March 13 losses were by default. Metro defaulted on all three of its losing matches March 29.
The teamâs overall performance this spring has blossomed thanks in no small part to No. 1 singles player sophomore Maria Nystrom, who has taken seven of nine singles matches and No. 2 singles player senior Fabiana Uriarte, who has racked up six wins in nine matches.
LeFevre said Sophomore Vicki Chong, a Metro soccer player who joined the tennis team this spring also has potential to become a strong link in a short chain ÷ though her record, two wins in seven singles matches, is less than illustrious.
ãSheâs very athletic and very good for the team morale, Lefevre said.
Cicero said part of the reason the womenâs team continues to shrink is the high turnover rate for Metroâs tennis coaches.
Lefevre took the helm for Metroâs menâs and womenâs tennis teams in February, leaving little time for him to recruit before the season began in March. Former Metro tennis coach Dan Thomas resigned Oct. 16 without ever having seen the team play matches that mattered.
Thomas replaced Haili McLeod who coached both teams last year before resigning because she said her salary was inadequate.
Lefevre, 34, has been a high school coach for the past six years, this is his first swing at college coaching.
ã(Lefevre) didnât have time to get his own people in,ä Cicero said. ãRight now, heâs establishing relationships with future and current players. If he stays, weâll have a full roster next year.ä
Metroâs womenâs and menâs tennis teams will face conference foe Colorado Christian and several non-conference opponents April 10-11 during the Colorado Collegiate Tennis Tournament at the Auraria Tennis Courts.
