May 25, 2005

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A fairy tale finish in NCAA tennis

by Rick Eymer

Erin Burdette knew what was ahead as she neared victory in her singles match. She was about to get snowed under a pile of bodies and she didn't want it any other way.

The Stanford women's tennis team was saving the dog pile - reserved for special occasions - for the national finals. And Burdette, one of only two seniors on the Cardinal roster, made sure the special occasion arrived as she put the finishing touches on Stanford's 4-0 victory over Texas in the NCAA championship match on Sunday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens.

Burdette, who attended Monroe Academy in Jackson, about 70 miles southwest of Athens, clinched the title with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Texas' Kendra Strohm at No. 3 singles.

"No matter how many championships you win, it's always great to come out on top," said Burdette, who was limited to 15 dual matches due to injury this season. "I would have to say that the excitement I feel after the last point is one of my best memories in collegiate tennis."

The win gave Stanford (27-0) its second straight undefeated season, and third in five years. The Cardinal was unbeaten in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1989-90. Stanford has never recorded three straight perfect seasons.

The Cardinal will enter next season with a 56-match winning streak intact, and an 85-match home winning streak. With the possibility of returning six of its top seven players, and the NCAA tournament - men's and women's - scheduled for Taube Tennis Center, Stanford could be on the road to its first three-peat since winning six in a row between 1987-91.

After recording the match winner, Burdette was immediately mobbed by her teammates. That's a familiar spot for the certain four-time All-American: she also recorded the clinching points last year against UCLA and in 2002 against Florida.

Burdette called it a "fairy tale ending" last year. This year, in the final dual match of her career, it had to be even more special.

Stanford won 108 of 111 matches during Burdette's time, including the past 56 in a row.

"There isn't one reason for the streak," Stanford coach Lele Forood said. "Every year is different. The teams are different and the situation is different. I'd have to say that it's got a lot to do with having some pretty good teams."

Forood won her fourth national title in five years at Stanford, and recorded her third undefeated season.

Stanford, ranked No. 1 in each Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, finished the year the way it began - with a shutout victory.

The Cardinal dropped just three games in six matches in the NCAA tournament to earn its14th overall title in the 24-year history of the event.

Alice Barnes was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the second straight year. She won her first two matches in Athens and went 3-0 (with Burdette) in doubles. She was leading in two other matches that didn't finish.

Theresa Logar and Anne Yelsey were also named to the all-tournament team, and the Cardinal swept the doubles all-tourney selections with Amber Liu and Yelsey, Barnes and Burdette and Whitney Deason and Logar.

"It's great to play with such great players and such great girls," Yelsey said. "Even though we're on a streak right now, each match is different."

Barnes and Deason each finished the season with a 19-1 record in duals, while Logar was 22-2 and Yelsey 21-2. Liu finished 17-3.

"As far as the streak goes I don't think any girl on the team can tell you the exact number of games we've won in a row," Liu said. "Nobody really thinks about it that much. I think the streak and the (Stanford tradition) just gives every player on the team a winning attitude. We have a team of six girls who could play No.1 or close to it at any other school."

Stanford has seven players entered, including Pinewood School grad Lejla Hodzic, in the individual tournament that began Monday. Liu is the two-time defending singles champion.

Liu and Yelsey along with Barnes and Burdette are also in the doubles tournament.

Against Texas on Sunday, Stanford won the doubles point and got quick singles wins from Logar, who won at No. 4 singles, and Liu, who won in straight sets at No. 1 singles.

Barnes, Deason and Yelsey had all won their first set and were leading in the second set when Burdette ended it.

"From the looks of the scoreboard all our girls wanted to be the finisher," Forood said. "We like to think we're pretty tough when we get to the finals. We're very mentally tough."

Texas, the 11th seed, became the lowest seed to reach the finals since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1999. The Longhorns (25-6) upset No. 6 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Kentucky and No. 2 Florida to reach their fourth final. Texas has won two national titles, including a 5-2 victory over Stanford in 1993.

"We simply ran into a Stanford team that was better," Texas coach Jeff Moore said.

"I would say the main difference is that they have six girls who are all at about the same level and always giving their best," said Texas player Petra Dizdar. "I like how they are still eager to win. They just don't get satisfied."

Deason clinched Stanford's 4-2 victory over Clemson in Saturday's semifinal. It was the Cardinal's closest match since beating then third-ranked USC, 4-3, on April 8.

"We have so many great players on this team all the way through the lineup," Deason said. "We know we can count on everyone to go out there and fight. It makes it easier on us when we know that we already have two singles matches in the bag and up top everyone is still fighting on the court."

Said Clemson coach Nancy Harris: "Stanford has a great group of fighters and a great team."

Stanford beat host Georgia, 4-1, on Friday.

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