The Illini women’s tennis players have begun their preparations for the 2008 season without even stepping foot on the court as a team. Illinois has remained off the court because practices cannot officially begin until Sept. 8 due to NCAA rules.

“We have had seven and eight a.m. conditioning sessions with timed miles and two lifts a week,” head coach Michelle Dasso said. “The team is even seeing a nutritionist next week to set up food plans. I really want the girls to focus on taking care of themselves.”

Dasso said conditioning was one of the team’s weaknesses last season, and when they have to play great teams down the line in the spring, it can be the difference maker in matches.

For the team to be successful, each player must have the same mindset. This means communication among the team is important.

With freshmen Amy Allin and Chelcie Abajian trying to adjust to the team and college life, veteran leadership is crucial. Junior Megan Fudge has quickly filled that role. Allin said she and her other teammates received countless text messages from Fudge during the summer which helped them to connect before the fall.

“It helped me keep perspective while I was here working out this summer,” Fudge said. “And now that we are back, I want to work as hard as I can so they can see how high the competition is going to be.”

Allin responded to Fudge’s efforts, running the fastest mile on the team in six minutes and 14 seconds. For Abajian, the only thing that has slowed her is her recovery from an appendectomy. Abajian said she is near 100 percent.

To prepare for the season, Fudge spent the majority of her summer on campus, attempting to perfect her forehand. Senior Shivani Dave was also on campus this summer, working on her court depth and her ability to get to the net.

The Illini women participated in several tournaments this summer as individual competitors, with some favorable results in doubles. They hope this kind of success can carry into the school year, where the doubles point has been a big weakness.

Sophomores Annie McCarthy and Marisa Lambropoulos took the doubles title in the ITA Summer Circuit tournament hosted by Indiana on July 19.

“The tournament was really important for us because we got much more comfortable talking to each other on the court,” McCarthy said. “That was one thing we were definitely missing last season.”

The Illini will get to test out their conditioning on September 19 at the Colorado Invitational. However, McCarthy said the team does not normally send every player to each tournament. Of the five tournaments in the fall, each player should expect to go to three.

“The fall season is really about singles work and trying to find solid doubles teams,” McCarthy said. “But personally I want to work on my endurance, strength and keeping a positive attitude.”