Seniors should make Rams contenders
By Dick Sparrer
Don DuShane could look at his Willow Glen tennis roster and think about what could have been.
But the veteran Willow Glen coach chooses instead to look at his Rams roster and think about what could be.
Because despite losing a couple of key players off the team that finished second in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League last year, DuShane figures he has a squad that can contend for a title this year.
Graduation took one key player out of the Willow Glen line-up. And another top player "is forgoing his senior year of tennis in order to work." Still, the Rams have the depth and experience, DuShane believes, to rival Leigh and Yerba Buena for top honors in the circuit.
"With nine seniors, this would be the year for us to contend, even with losing to the two previously mentioned players," said DuShane.
Senior returners Nick Burggraff, Jose Ocampo, Loc Nguyen and Erik Bursch head up Willow Glen's hopes this spring, and they figure to play in the top four singles spots for the Rams.
Seniors Chris Lyons and Minh Phan will play at No. 1 doubles for Willow Glen.
Mike Nguyen, Nhan Vo, Matt Burke, Reno Morella and Tri Vuu are other seniors on the WG squad.
Sophomores Alex Kane, David Weaver, Bao Pham, De Phan, Long Vuong and Tadiyos Asseta round out a strong roster for the Rams.
The Rams are already off to a solid start in the 2001 season. Willow Glen opened the three nonleague wins over teams from the West Valley Division of the BVAL.
The Rams knocked off Pioneer 5-2 last week with L. Nguyen winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 singles and Bursch winning 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3.
Phan and Lyons teamed for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles with M. Nguyen and Kane winning 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 and Vo and Vuu winning 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3.
Willow Glen made it 3-0 for the year with a 6-1 win over Lincoln a few days later. Ocampo started the Rams on the road to the victory with a hard-earned 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win at No. 1 singles.
L. Nguyen won 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 singles and Bursch won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3.
Doubles wins went to Phan-Lyons (6-0, 6-0 at No. 1), M. Nguyen-Kane (6-0, 6-0 at No. 2) and Vo-Vuu winning (6-0, 6-4 at No. 3).
Willow Glen had opened the year with a 6-1 win over Branham. Ocampo was a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) winner at No. 1 singles, Bursch won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3 and M. Phan won 6-4, 7-5 at No. 4.
Doubles wins went to M. Nguyen-Kane (6-0, 6-1 at No. 1), Vo-Vuong (6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 2) and Vuu-D. Phan (6-1, 6-2 at No. 3).
The Rams get into league play this week when they host Andrew Hill on March 6 and visit Yerba Buena on March 8 in a couple of 3:30 p.m. starts.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
