Dixie State College Athletics

ST. GEORGE - With a team made up largely of freshmen in a new program. few expected Dixie State's women's tennis team to win during the 2007 season. Playing a schedule which included No. 1-ranked BYU-Hawaii and many other Top 20 NCAA Division II teams. the Rebels went 0-13. Their schedule also included Utah and Southern Utah from Division I. "The big thing as we look toward next season is (we recognize that) we're going to have opportunities to be more competitive." said coach Eric Pelton. "This year we played mostly great teams." Rebecca Wright won the team's historic first singles match when she beat Tiffany Divincent of Chaminade 6-2. 6-2 in the middle of the season. Liza Davis and Ashley Lafeen won the team's first doubles match when they edged Southern Utah's duo of Lelila Kanuha and Shanna Docherty 9-8 in the first of three matches the teams played. "It was kind of an uphill battle but we grew and we learned." Wright. a freshman out of Pine View High School. said of the season. "I didn't really look at the wins and the losses. To play women at that level of tennis was a lot of fun. We gained a lot of experience and made a lot of history." Wright said she and her teammates were unsure what to expect when the season started. None had played collegiate tennis although a couple were juniors academically and one was a senior. Besides Wright the team members included Marci Sheffield. Davis. Lanie Evans. Lafeen. Lindsey St. Jeor. Danelle Williams and Breonna Burnett. "When we come back next year we can help the younger girls know what to expect." Wright said. She added that she plans to play a lot over the summer "to be more prepared for next year." Her teammates who will return will do likewise. "The next step is we have to realize we can win." said Pelton. "Our team has to realize it can happen." Pelton said he believes the team can attain a solid footing and be an asset to the college in a few short years. "I think we've got a prime location and great opportunites. It's just a matter of getting the word out. Right now people don't know that we are here. Once people realize we can play outside all year long and that we have a great school and a great campus. they'll come." Next season the Rebels will compete in the Pacific West Conference in all sports but football and baseball. The conference tennis championships will be in St. George in mid-April.