Tennis Star Continues to Shine for Gators
By Brian Steele

Pictured: Florida's Diana Srebrovic (UF Photo)

Diana Srebrovic is a giddy giraffe.

Whenever the Florida women's tennis team goes on the road, the Gators make up animal nicknames for each other and then yell them out during matches, helping to break the tension.

Srebrovic earned the giraffe name for her tall 5-foot-11 frame and skinny, slender legs.

She couldn't be happier to be one, either.

But it hasn't always been this way.

As a highly touted recruit, Srebrovic spent her freshman year at Virginia, but made the decision to transfer before the season was over. Even through she was the Cavaliers best player, they immediately dismissed her upon learning she was leaving. After she left, UVA went 3-10 for the rest of the 2005 season.

Now, two years later as a junior at Florida, she's receiving what she wants out of her college years.

"In comparison to my first year of college, it's been a breeze," she said. "From the very first day I got here, my coaches, my teammates, my advisors, everyone's made it as smooth as it could possibly could go. My teachers understand my responsibilities outside of the classroom a lot more."

Srebrovic is the No. 18 ranked player in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Florida's highest ranked player, and was tabbed in the top 10 eight times last spring.

Her team feels her impact, as the Gators are the No. 3 team in the country.

You just wouldn't know it by the way they acted.

"We are definitely one of the goofiest groups of girls you will ever meet," Srebrovic said. "We crack jokes, make fun of each other all day long. That's one thing about this team that's really great, it's so easy for us to be around each other. We can all be honest with each other. If one of us is having a bad day, we know how to help each other out. If somebody needs space, we give them space."

Srebrovic has had her share of trying days. She says senior Nina Suvak and junior Whitney Benik - who used to train with Srebrovic before college at Delray Beach - are the ones who help her get through her difficult times while taking 18 credit hours.

But there's still time for their trademark dippyness.

"If we're having a bad day we'll go to On The Border (restaurant) and get a massive brownie with extra ice cream and extra fudge," Srebrovic said. "You know, because we're all girls."

Those sugar rushes work for the food and resource economic major.

Florida coach Roland Thornqvist has noticed the maturity of his top-ranked player.

"Her game has improved," Thornqvist said. "I was really impressed by the way she played against South Carolina on Saturday. Her game is starting to get to where she feels it should be, and where I feel it should be also. Playing at the No. 1 spot in this league with our schedule, you better have your stuff under control or you're going to get beaten up"

There's even more on Srebrovic's plate. On a team that only features one senior, she's taken on a leadership role this season.

"She's one of those players who has a connection with everyone on the team," Thornqvist said. "She may not be best friends with everyone, but she can certainly help and talk to or relate to everyone on the team. It's a huge benefit for us, and for me as a coach, to have a player like that play at the top of the lineup so the younger kids can look up to her."

That leadership is not surprising. When Srebrovic was 13-years-old, she received a surprise: a new baby sister.

Srebrovic is used to having everyone look up at her with her 5-11 height, but her sister looks up to her in a different way.

"It's almost like I'm her second mother because there's such a gap in between us, but I love her to death," Srebrovic said. "As much as I love everyone in my family, she's my favorite person in the world. I completely spoil her, and I think she likes having an older sister.

"All her friends think she's so cool because she has a really big sister who doesn't live at home and just comes to visit once in a while."

Doing All Things Through Him
By Christina Hilliard

In a time where athletes struggle with outside influences, going to practice, going to class and competing, many search for some type of outlet. Elna de Villiers of the MSU women's tennis team has found her outlet through Fellowship of Christian Athletes, otherwise known as FCA.

FCA happens to be what de Villiers likes most about Mississippi State besides the people.

"When I came here, the people made a really big impression on me. All of them were really friendly and helpful. I went to FCA… and I made all of my best friends there. So I have to say what I like about MSU the most is Fellowship of Christian Athletes," said de Villiers. "I have been to two retreats and the people are just so encouraging. They go through the same situations as we do."

In fact, Elna's biggest fans are in the form of three little boys whose mother is actively involved in the organization.

"I would have to say it is Mrs. Whitney's three little boys that are my biggest fans. They come to almost every match. They are always sitting behind my court and running around my court," she said. "Mrs. Whitney works with FCA and she sometimes comes and gives the devotion. They are really big fans of tennis."

When the international business major is not practicing or attending study hall, she enjoys different aspects of in both America and her native Africa.

"It is different from when I'm in America than when I'm in Africa. When I'm in America we do not have a lot of free time so when I have free time I just like to relax with my friends and I like going to baseball games especially. Sometimes I like playing ping pong with my friends or just watching a movie, just something to get away from school," said the Grunau, Namibia-native.

"When I'm in Africa I really love nature so I love hiking sometimes and going camping. I like going outside to watch the stars. I also have three sisters [Elrien (18), Jana (14), and Daniel (8)] and I love spending time with them when I'm in Africa. We do crazy stuff and have fun."

While in Africa the sophomore, who says her special talent is encouragement, spends time on her family farm. Elna even had a pet giraffe!

"Actually, the giraffe got taken away last week. So now we don't have one anymore. It was kind of like a random giraffe that just came on our farm and was living there. I was kind of sad when my dad told me," said de Villiers. "The giraffe was chasing the cattle. The giraffe forced the cattle to jump over the fence because the giraffe's legs are really tall and it was walking over the fences. The cattle were running away. Instead of chasing the cattle, it was playing with them. I guess he got lonely. Last time he kicked the cattle and some of the cattle died. It was costing us money," said de Villiers.

But Elna also has two special people in her life that have made a huge impact on her.

"My dad has been the biggest influence with me in tennis. He has been teaching me tennis since I was a little girl and he has always been trying to make me a better tennis player," she said. "In general, God is the biggest influence in my life. In everything I do I want to honor his name. I play tennis for him."

Due to the hardships that classmates Martina (Banikova) and de Villiers have been through, they have formed a strong friendship.

"My best friend is Martina because I would say going through our freshman year we had a lot of difficulties because we were young and they expected a lot out of us. Martina and me could talk about everything and just spend a lot of time together," said the sophomore. "We really encouraged each other through all of that."

As with the rest of the Lady Netters, most attribute their success to MState head coach Tracy Lane.

"She has been a really big influence on my life and tennis because since I've been here my tennis has improved tremendously. She's always encouraging. She gives us speeches about life. She compares tennis to life and that encourages us everyday to become better people and to try to make every moment count," said de Villiers.

"She really encourages us to have a good attitude and good effort…I think that is one of the biggest parts of tennis. If you have a good attitude and effort and try hard everyday, it will help you to improve to become a better player," said the former high school track star. "She [Lane] is like a mom for us. She always takes us to her house and cooks breakfast, lunch, or dinner. She just helps us in general."

And as high as de Villiers is on Lane, Lane speaks equally as high of sophomore leaders and best friends de Villiers and Banikova.

"Both of them (Banikova and de Villiers) have such great work ethics. For sophomores, they step it up and exemplify things on the court…never complaining and working hard," said Lane.

"I think both Elna and Martina are going to be good leaders for this program. They have already shown very good signs of doing that as sophomores, which is great. Most leaders only come out further along in their years of college and these are two players that are just working really hard and setting higher standards for our program, which is what we really need."

With SEC championships coming up, the ladies of this tennis team have worked hard to implement a plan that will carry over into next year's season.

"I feel like towards the end of the season…every person on the team started to fight more because they saw what it was about and wanted it more," said de Villiers. "Next year I really want to go to NCAAs. I want the team to improve on everything so that next year we can be a better team. We know there is more out there for us."

Kentucky Women's Tennis Team Prepares For The SEC Tournament
By Jessica J. Rouse

Pictured: Kentucky coach Carlos Drada (UK Photo)

The University of Kentucky women's tennis team will try to defend their SEC Championship title at the Hillary J. Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington April 19-22. First year women's tennis coach Carlos Drada knows how important it is to perform in the SEC Championships. In fact, he was once a contender in them when he played for the Wildcats in the late 1990s and 2000. He battled his way to an NCAA singles title match in 2000 and finished second in the nation.

Drada's team heads into this year's tournament ranked 28th in the nation with a 17-6 record. The Cats posted a 6-5 record in the SEC during the regular season, including a run of six consecutive wins over Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

The Wildcats will rely on the senior leadership of Kim Coventry, Joelle Schwenk and Caroline Winebrenner, who have all helped take Kentucky to the NCAA tournament each year they've played and have numerous athletic accomplishments.

The team will also rely on its underclassmen. Sophomore Carolina Escamilla nabbed second team All-SEC and SEC player of the week honors last season and joined Coventry to upset the No.4 seed in the NCAA doubles championship to advance to the round of 16.

Another Wildcat sophomore, Jessica Giuggioli, placed second team All- SEC after a 9-1 conference slate last season.

Kentucky also has the advantage of hosting the SEC Tournament, and will look to capitalize on their already impressive 11-2 record at home.

The Wildcats hit the court Thursday morning at 10 against Mississippi State in the first round of the SEC Tournament.